Written Question · S1W-18782 · Session 1
Whether it will now implement the recommendation contained in the 1st Report 2000, Inquiry into the Delivery of Local Economic Development …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will now implement the recommendation contained in the 1st Report 2000, Inquiry into the Delivery of Local Economic Development Services in Scotland, by the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee, that there should be an ombudsman created to consider complaints made in respect of the enterprise network and, if not, whether it will (a) review the remit of the external adjudicator, (b) extend the remit of the external adjudicators to include issues such as malfeasance and (c) increase the powers of the external adjudicators to include the power to award compensation and to assess what compensation should be appropriate.
The answer
We are taking forward the recommendation to create an ombudsman to investigate complaints against the enterprise networks as part of our wider exercise to establish modern arrangements for public sector ombudsmen in Scotland. In July we published a paper, A Modern Complaints System, which set out detailed proposals, including the proposal that the External Complaints Adjudicators of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise would be wound-up and that the Enterprise Networks would fall within the remit of the proposed Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman. The main function of the new ombudsman will be to investigate claims of injustice resulting from maladministration.In his statement to Parliament last month the First Minister confirmed our intention to introduce the Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman Bill later this year.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S1W-18782 by reference.