The Committee's Recommendation
Recommendation 1: We recommend that ODPM publish
a clear summary of what progress has been made in addressing the
recommendations contained in the Commission for Local Administration
in England's 2003 Review.
The Government accepts the importance of taking forward
work following the CLA's 2003 review and indeed other proposals
for the future of the Local Ombudsman, in a transparent and open
way.
The Government notes that the supplementary memorandum
which Nick Raynsford submitted to the Committee on 15 March, and
which summarises the progress that had been made in addressing
the 2003 review, has been published by the Committee as a annex
to its report on the Role and Effectiveness of the Local Government
Ombudsmen for England.
Since that memorandum was submitted, a consultation
paper has been published by the Cabinet Office on a draft regulatory
reform order to facilitate closer working between the Local Ombudsman
and the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman. The paper was published
on 2 August and comments are requested by 18 November. Copies
of the paper have been placed in the library of the House, and
were also sent to the Select Committee Secretariat for circulation
of all Select Committee Members.
