S. 23 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 147(3)

S. 23 in force at 17.11.2021 by S.I. 2021/1274, reg. 2(b)

S. 23(7A) inserted (28.2.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), s. 147(6)(7), Sch. 3 para. 21(4) (with s. 144); S.R. 2022/54, art. 2(1)(a)

S. 23(6)(aa) inserted (28.2.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), s. 147(6)(7), Sch. 3 para. 21(2)(a) (with s. 144); S.R. 2022/54, art. 2(1)(a)

S. 23(6)(da) inserted (28.2.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), s. 147(6)(7), Sch. 3 para. 21(2)(d) (with s. 144); S.R. 2022/54, art. 2(1)(a)

Words in s. 23(6)(b) inserted (28.2.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), s. 147(6)(7), Sch. 3 para. 21(2)(b) (with s. 144); S.R. 2022/54, art. 2(1)(a)

Word in s. 23(6)(d) omitted (28.2.2022) by virtue of Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), s. 147(6)(7), Sch. 3 para. 21(2)(c) (with s. 144); S.R. 2022/54, art. 2(1)(a)

Words in s. 23(7)(c) inserted (28.2.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), s. 147(6)(7), Sch. 3 para. 21(3) (with s. 144); S.R. 2022/54, art. 2(1)(a)

Words in s. 23(8) inserted (28.2.2022) by Environment Act 2021 (c. 30), s. 147(6)(7), Sch. 3 para. 21(5) (with s. 144); S.R. 2022/54, art. 2(1)(a)

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/30/section/23Environment Act 2021enStatute Law Database2024-09-04Expert Participation2024-09-01PART 1Environmental governanceCHAPTER 2The Office for Environmental ProtectionThe Office for Environmental Protection
23Principal objective of the OEP and exercise of its functions1

The principal objective of the OEP in exercising its functions is to contribute to—

a

environmental protection, and

b

the improvement of the natural environment.

2

The OEP must—

a

act objectively and impartially, and

b

have regard to the need to act proportionately and transparently.

3

The OEP must prepare a strategy that sets out how it intends to exercise its functions.

4

In particular, the strategy must set out—

a

how the OEP will further its principal objective,

b

how the OEP will act objectively and impartially, and

c

how the OEP will have regard to the need to act proportionately and transparently.

5

The strategy must also set out—

a

how the OEP intends to avoid any overlap between the exercise of its functions and the exercise by the Committee on Climate Change of that committee’s functions, and

b

how the OEP intends to co-operate with devolved environmental governance bodies.

6

The strategy must contain an enforcement policy that sets out—

a

how the OEP intends to determine whether failures to comply with environmental law are serious for the purposes of sections 33(1)(b) and (2)(b), 35(1)(b), 36(1)(b), 38(1)(b) and 39(1)(a) and (7),

aa

how the OEP intends to determine whether failures to comply with relevant environmental law are serious for the purposes of paragraphs 7(1)(b) and (2)(b), 9(1)(b), 10(1)(b), 12(1)(b) and 13(1) and (6) of Schedule 3,

b

how the OEP intends to determine whether damage to the natural environment or to human health is serious for the purposes of section 39(2), or paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 3,

c

how the OEP intends to exercise its enforcement functions in a way that respects the integrity of other statutory regimes (including statutory provision for appeals),

d

how the OEP intends to avoid any overlap between the exercise of its functions under sections 32 to 34 (complaints) and the exercise by each relevant ombudsman of their functions, ...

da

how the OEP intends to avoid any overlap between the exercise of its functions under paragraphs 6 to 8 of Schedule 3 (complaints) and the exercise by the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman of its functions, and

e

how the OEP intends to prioritise cases.

7

In considering its enforcement policy the OEP must have regard to the particular importance of prioritising cases that it considers have or may have national implications, and the importance of prioritising cases—

a

that relate to ongoing or recurrent conduct,

b

that relate to conduct that the OEP considers may cause (or has caused) serious damage to the natural environment or to human health, or

c

that the OEP considers may raise a point of environmental law or Northern Ireland environmental law of general public importance.

7A

In this section “relevant environmental law” and “Northern Ireland environmental law” have the meanings they have in Part 1 of Schedule 3 (see paragraphs 5 and 18(2) of that Schedule).

8

The OEP’s “enforcement functions” are its functions under sections 32 to 41 and paragraphs 6 to 15 of Schedule 3.

9

For the purposes of this Part, each of the following is a “relevant ombudsman”—

a

the Commission for Local Administration in England;

b

the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

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<note class="commentary I" eId="key-bda1840a8209aefef70784ad55d7d482">
<p>
S. 23 not in force at Royal Assent, see
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/3">s. 147(3)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary I" eId="key-e7ea7e8a921616b235943f4d59ca5c24">
<p>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/23">S. 23</ref>
in force at 17.11.2021 by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2021/1274">S.I. 2021/1274</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/uksi/2021/1274/regulation/2/b">reg. 2(b)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57">
<p>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/23/7A">S. 23(7A)</ref>
inserted (28.2.2022) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30">Environment Act 2021 (c. 30)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/6">s. 147(6)</ref>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/7">(7)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/schedule/3/paragraph/21/4">Sch. 3 para. 21(4)</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/144">s. 144</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54">S.R. 2022/54</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54/article/2/1/a">art. 2(1)(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="key-4f877db84ce55c330d256e9b51c6d6b2">
<p>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/23/6/aa">S. 23(6)(aa)</ref>
inserted (28.2.2022) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30">Environment Act 2021 (c. 30)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/6">s. 147(6)</ref>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/7">(7)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/schedule/3/paragraph/21/2/a">Sch. 3 para. 21(2)(a)</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/144">s. 144</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54">S.R. 2022/54</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54/article/2/1/a">art. 2(1)(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="key-8eb1a33c3584f5f6dee4902d479e3362">
<p>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/23/6/da">S. 23(6)(da)</ref>
inserted (28.2.2022) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30">Environment Act 2021 (c. 30)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/6">s. 147(6)</ref>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/7">(7)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/schedule/3/paragraph/21/2/d">Sch. 3 para. 21(2)(d)</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/144">s. 144</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54">S.R. 2022/54</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54/article/2/1/a">art. 2(1)(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="key-6bd2fbcff1ac097cef8b08c4fbe78950">
<p>
Words in
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inserted (28.2.2022) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30">Environment Act 2021 (c. 30)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/6">s. 147(6)</ref>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/7">(7)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/schedule/3/paragraph/21/2/b">Sch. 3 para. 21(2)(b)</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/144">s. 144</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54">S.R. 2022/54</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54/article/2/1/a">art. 2(1)(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="key-121db2873cdeb10f5093b8854d8aa76f">
<p>
Word in
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/23/6/d">s. 23(6)(d)</ref>
omitted (28.2.2022) by virtue of
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30">Environment Act 2021 (c. 30)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/6">s. 147(6)</ref>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/7">(7)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/schedule/3/paragraph/21/2/c">Sch. 3 para. 21(2)(c)</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/144">s. 144</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54">S.R. 2022/54</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54/article/2/1/a">art. 2(1)(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="key-721bac544f09069971ec3add0e898f29">
<p>
Words in
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/23/7/c">s. 23(7)(c)</ref>
inserted (28.2.2022) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30">Environment Act 2021 (c. 30)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/6">s. 147(6)</ref>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/7">(7)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/schedule/3/paragraph/21/3">Sch. 3 para. 21(3)</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/144">s. 144</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54">S.R. 2022/54</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54/article/2/1/a">art. 2(1)(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
<note class="commentary F" eId="key-c8799a0fdd1bdc1df7e494c563822d52">
<p>
Words in
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/23/8">s. 23(8)</ref>
inserted (28.2.2022) by
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30">Environment Act 2021 (c. 30)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/6">s. 147(6)</ref>
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/147/7">(7)</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/schedule/3/paragraph/21/5">Sch. 3 para. 21(5)</ref>
(with
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/ukpga/2021/30/section/144">s. 144</ref>
);
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54">S.R. 2022/54</ref>
,
<ref href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/id/nisr/2022/54/article/2/1/a">art. 2(1)(a)</ref>
</p>
</note>
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<ukm:Year Value="2021"/>
<ukm:Number Value="30"/>
<ukm:EnactmentDate Date="2021-11-09"/>
<ukm:ISBN Value="9780105701316"/>
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<ukm:Alternative URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/30/pdfs/ukpgaen_20210030_en.pdf" Date="2021-11-25" Title="Explanatory Note" Size="3136118"/>
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<ukm:Alternative URI="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/30/pdfs/ukpga_20210030_en.pdf" Date="2021-11-16" Size="1542211"/>
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<portionBody eId="body" period="#period3">
<part eId="part-1" period="#period2">
<num>PART 1</num>
<heading>Environmental governance</heading>
<chapter eId="part-1-chapter-2" period="#period1">
<num>CHAPTER 2</num>
<heading>The Office for Environmental Protection</heading>
<hcontainer name="crossheading" eId="part-1-chapter-2-crossheading-the-office-for-environmental-protection" period="#period1">
<heading>The Office for Environmental Protection</heading>
<section eId="section-23" period="#period1">
<num>
<noteRef href="#key-bda1840a8209aefef70784ad55d7d482" marker="I1" class="commentary I"/>
<noteRef href="#key-e7ea7e8a921616b235943f4d59ca5c24" marker="I2" class="commentary I"/>
23
</num>
<heading>Principal objective of the OEP and exercise of its functions</heading>
<subsection eId="section-23-1">
<num>1</num>
<intro>
<p>The principal objective of the OEP in exercising its functions is to contribute to—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-23-1-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>environmental protection, and</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-1-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>the improvement of the natural environment.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-2">
<num>2</num>
<intro>
<p>The OEP must—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-23-2-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>act objectively and impartially, and</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-2-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>have regard to the need to act proportionately and transparently.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-3">
<num>3</num>
<content>
<p>The OEP must prepare a strategy that sets out how it intends to exercise its functions.</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-4">
<num>4</num>
<intro>
<p>In particular, the strategy must set out—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-23-4-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>how the OEP will further its principal objective,</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-4-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>how the OEP will act objectively and impartially, and</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-4-c">
<num>c</num>
<content>
<p>how the OEP will have regard to the need to act proportionately and transparently.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-5">
<num>5</num>
<intro>
<p>The strategy must also set out—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-23-5-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>how the OEP intends to avoid any overlap between the exercise of its functions and the exercise by the Committee on Climate Change of that committee’s functions, and</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-5-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>how the OEP intends to co-operate with devolved environmental governance bodies.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-6">
<num>6</num>
<intro>
<p>The strategy must contain an enforcement policy that sets out—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-23-6-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>
how the OEP intends to determine whether failures to comply with environmental law are serious for the purposes of sections 33
<a href="#section-33-1-b">(1)(b)</a>
and
<a href="#section-33-2-b">(2)(b)</a>
, 35
<a href="#section-33-1-b">(1)(b)</a>
, 36
<a href="#section-33-1-b">(1)(b)</a>
, 38(1)(b) and 39(1)(a) and (7),
</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-6-aa">
<num>
<ins class="key-4f877db84ce55c330d256e9b51c6d6b2-1646756555595 first">
<noteRef href="#key-4f877db84ce55c330d256e9b51c6d6b2" marker="F2" class="commentary attribute F"/>
aa
</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins class="key-4f877db84ce55c330d256e9b51c6d6b2-1646756555595 last">how the OEP intends to determine whether failures to comply with relevant environmental law are serious for the purposes of paragraphs 7(1)(b) and (2)(b), 9(1)(b), 10(1)(b), 12(1)(b) and 13(1) and (6) of Schedule 3,</ins>
</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-6-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>
how the OEP intends to determine whether damage to the natural environment or to human health is serious for the purposes of section 39
<a href="#section-39-2">(2)</a>
,
<ins class="key-6bd2fbcff1ac097cef8b08c4fbe78950-1646756759907 first last">
<noteRef href="#key-6bd2fbcff1ac097cef8b08c4fbe78950" marker="F4" class="commentary attribute F"/>
or paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 3,
</ins>
</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-6-c">
<num>c</num>
<content>
<p>how the OEP intends to exercise its enforcement functions in a way that respects the integrity of other statutory regimes (including statutory provision for appeals),</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-6-d">
<num>d</num>
<content>
<p>
how the OEP intends to avoid any overlap between the exercise of its functions under sections 32 to 34 (complaints) and the exercise by each relevant ombudsman of their functions,
<noteRef href="#key-121db2873cdeb10f5093b8854d8aa76f" marker="F5" class="commentary F"/>
...
</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-6-da">
<num>
<ins class="key-8eb1a33c3584f5f6dee4902d479e3362-1646756598200 first">
<noteRef href="#key-8eb1a33c3584f5f6dee4902d479e3362" marker="F3" class="commentary attribute F"/>
da
</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins class="key-8eb1a33c3584f5f6dee4902d479e3362-1646756598200">how the OEP intends to avoid any overlap between the exercise of its functions under paragraphs </ins>
<a href="#schedule-3-paragraph-6">
<ins class="key-8eb1a33c3584f5f6dee4902d479e3362-1646756598200">6</ins>
</a>
<ins class="key-8eb1a33c3584f5f6dee4902d479e3362-1646756598200"> to </ins>
<a href="#schedule-3-paragraph-8">
<ins class="key-8eb1a33c3584f5f6dee4902d479e3362-1646756598200">8</ins>
</a>
<ins class="key-8eb1a33c3584f5f6dee4902d479e3362-1646756598200 last"> of Schedule 3 (complaints) and the exercise by the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman of its functions, and</ins>
</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-6-e">
<num>e</num>
<content>
<p>how the OEP intends to prioritise cases.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-7">
<num>7</num>
<intro>
<p>In considering its enforcement policy the OEP must have regard to the particular importance of prioritising cases that it considers have or may have national implications, and the importance of prioritising cases—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-23-7-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>that relate to ongoing or recurrent conduct,</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-7-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>that relate to conduct that the OEP considers may cause (or has caused) serious damage to the natural environment or to human health, or</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-7-c">
<num>c</num>
<content>
<p>
that the OEP considers may raise a point of environmental law
<ins class="key-721bac544f09069971ec3add0e898f29-1646756930257 first last">
<noteRef href="#key-721bac544f09069971ec3add0e898f29" marker="F6" class="commentary attribute F"/>
or Northern Ireland environmental law
</ins>
of general public importance.
</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-7A">
<num>
<ins class="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57-1646756430403 first">
<noteRef href="#key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57" marker="F1" class="commentary attribute F"/>
7A
</ins>
</num>
<content>
<p>
<ins class="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57-1646756430403">In this section “relevant environmental law” and “Northern Ireland environmental law” have the meanings they have in Part </ins>
<a href="#schedule-3-part-1">
<ins class="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57-1646756430403">1</ins>
</a>
<ins class="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57-1646756430403"> of Schedule 3 (see paragraphs </ins>
<a href="#schedule-3-paragraph-5">
<ins class="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57-1646756430403">5</ins>
</a>
<ins class="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57-1646756430403"> and </ins>
<a href="#schedule-3-paragraph-18-2">
<ins class="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57-1646756430403">18(2)</ins>
</a>
<ins class="key-3789c3380c8cb8e372bf935a17012f57-1646756430403 last"> of that Schedule).</ins>
</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-8">
<num>8</num>
<content>
<p>
The OEP’s “enforcement functions” are its functions under sections 32 to 41
<ins class="key-c8799a0fdd1bdc1df7e494c563822d52-1646756961913 first">
<noteRef href="#key-c8799a0fdd1bdc1df7e494c563822d52" marker="F7" class="commentary attribute F"/>
and paragraphs
</ins>
<a href="#schedule-3-paragraph-6">
<ins class="key-c8799a0fdd1bdc1df7e494c563822d52-1646756961913">6</ins>
</a>
<ins class="key-c8799a0fdd1bdc1df7e494c563822d52-1646756961913"> to </ins>
<a href="#schedule-3-paragraph-15">
<ins class="key-c8799a0fdd1bdc1df7e494c563822d52-1646756961913">15</ins>
</a>
<ins class="key-c8799a0fdd1bdc1df7e494c563822d52-1646756961913 last"> of Schedule 3</ins>
.
</p>
</content>
</subsection>
<subsection eId="section-23-9">
<num>9</num>
<intro>
<p>For the purposes of this Part, each of the following is a “relevant ombudsman”—</p>
</intro>
<paragraph eId="section-23-9-a">
<num>a</num>
<content>
<p>the Commission for Local Administration in England;</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph eId="section-23-9-b">
<num>b</num>
<content>
<p>the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.</p>
</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
</section>
</hcontainer>
</chapter>
</part>
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