In section 29 of the M1Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 (action to be taken in relation to adverse reports), the following subsections shall be substituted for subsections (1) to (2A)—

“(1)

This section applies where the Commissioner reports that injustice has been caused to a person aggrieved in consequence of maladministration.

F1(2)

The report shall be laid before the authority concerned and it shall be the duty of that authority to consider the report and, within the period of three months beginning with the date on which they received the report, or such longer period as the Commissioner may agree in writing, to notify the Commissioner of the action which the authority have taken or propose to take.

(2A)

If the Commissioner—

(a)

does not receive the notification required by subsection (2) above within the period allowed by or under that subsection, or

(b)

is not satisfied with the action which the authority concerned have take nor propose to take, or

(c)

does not within a period of three months beginning with the end of the period so allowed, or such longer period as the Commissioner may agree in writing, receive confirmation from the authority concerned that they have taken action, as proposed, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner,

he shall make a further report setting out those facts and making recommendations.

(2B)

Those recommendations are such recommendations as the Commissioner thinks fit to make with respect to the action which, in his opinion, the authority concerned should take to remedy the injustice to the person aggrieved and to prevent similar injustice being caused in the future.

(2C)

Section 28 of this Act, with any necessary modifications, and subsection (2) above shall apply to a report under subsection (2A) above as they apply to a report under that section.

(2D)

If the Commissioner—

(a)

does not receive the notification required by subsection (2) above as applied by subsection (2C) above within the period allowed by or under that subsection or is satisfied before the period allowed by that subsection has expired that the authority concerned have decided to take no action; or

(b)

is not satisfied with the action which the authority concerned have taken or propose to take; or

(c)

does not within a period of three months beginning with the end of the period allowed by or under subsection (2) above as applied by subsection (2C) above, or such longer period as the Commissioner may agree in writing, receive confirmation from the authority concerned that they have taken action, as proposed, to the satisfaction of the Commissioner,

he may, by notice to the authority, require them to arrange for astatement to be published in accordance with subsections (2E) and (2F) below.

(2E)

The statement referred to in subsection (2D) above is a statement, in such form as the authority concerned and the Commissioner may agree, consisting of—

(a)

details of any action recommended by the Commissioner in his further report which the authority have not taken;

(b)

such supporting material as the Commissioner may require; and

(c)

if the authority so require, a statement of the reasons for their having taken no action on, or not the action recommended in, the report.

(2F)

The requirements for the publication of the statement are that—

(a)

publication shall be in any two editions within a fortnight of a newspaper circulating in the area of the authority agreed with the Commissioner or, indefault of agreement, nominated by him; and

(b)

publication in the first such edition shall be arranged for the earliest practicable date.

(2G)

If the authority concerned—

(a)

fail to arrange for the publication of the statement in accordance withsubsections (2E) and (2F) above, or

(b)

are unable, within the period of one month beginning with the date on which they received the notice under subsection (2D) above, or such longer period as the Commissioner may agree in writing, to agree with the Commissioner the form of the statement to be published,

the Commissioner shall arrange for such a statement as is mentioned insubsection (2E) above to be published in any two editions within a fortnight of a newspaper circulating within the authority’s area.

(2H)

The authority concerned shall reimburse the Commissioner on demand any reasonable expenses incurred by the Commissioner in performing his duty under subsection (2G) above.”

In section 32 of the M2Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 (interpretation of provisions about investigations by the Commissioner) the following subsection shall be inserted after subsection (2)—

“(2A)

Except in the case of a joint board or joint committee, references in this Part of this Act to the authority concerned are, in relation to action taken by or on behalf of an authority to whom this Part of this Act applies (whether by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) of section 23 of this Act), references to that authority.”