The Regulatory Reform (Collaboration etc. between Ombudsmen) Order 2007

Collaborative working

4.  After section 33 of the 1974 Act (1), insert—

“33ZA    Collaborative working between Local Commissioners and other Commissioners

(1) If at any stage in the course of conducting an investigation under this Act a Local Commissioner forms the opinion that the complaint relates partly to a matter within the jurisdiction of —

(a) the Parliamentary Commissioner,

(b) the Health Service Commissioner for England, or

(c) both,

he may, subject to subsection (2) below, conduct an investigation under this Act jointly with that Commissioner or those Commissioners.

(2) A Local Commissioner must obtain the consent of the person aggrieved or any person acting on his behalf in accordance with subsection (2) of section 27 of this Act before agreeing to a joint investigation referred to in subsection (1) above.

(3) If a Local Commissioner forms the opinion that a complaint which is being investigated by—

(a) the Parliamentary Commissioner,

(b) the Health Service Commissioner, or

(c) both,

relates partly to a matter within his jurisdiction, he may conduct an investigation under this Act jointly with that Commissioner or those Commissioners.

(4) If a Local Commissioner conducts an investigation of a complaint jointly with another person, the requirements of section 30(1) (so far as relating to a case where the Local Commissioner conducts an investigation under this Act) may be satisfied by a report made jointly with that person.

(5) In relation to an investigation which has been conducted jointly with another person a direction given by the Local Commissioner under section 30(7) of this Act may relate only to those parts of a joint report prepared by virtue of subsection (4) above which are specified in the direction.”.

(1)

Amended by the Health Service Commissioners Act 1993 (c.46), Schedule 2, paragraph 4 and Schedule 3; the Government of Wales Act 1998 (c.38), Schedule 12, paragraph 17; the Housing Act 2004 (c.34), Schedule 15, paragraph 7; the Public Services Ombudsman (Wales) Act 2005 (c.10) Schedule 6, paragraphs 7, 13, 15; and S.I. 2004/1823, article 6.