To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will introduce a time limit by which investigations undertaken by the Service Complaints Commissioner must be concluded.
Answered on
13 January 2015
The current Service Complaints Commissioner does not have the power to undertake investigations. She can refer allegations of a wrong suffered by a current or former Service person to the relevant officer in the chain of command.
The Armed Forces (Service Complaints and Financial Assistance) Bill before Parliament will, if enacted, permit the newly established Service Complaints Ombudsman to investigate allegations of maladministration in connection with the handling of Service complaints once the internal process is complete. The Bill proposes that the procedure for carrying out an investigation is to be such as the Ombudsman considers appropriate, subject to any regulations made by the Secretary of State. There is no intention to impose a time limit for the conclusion of Ombudsman investigations.
In accordance with existing policy, the chain of command, discloses papers to relevant parties as part of the Service complaints process. If the Bill is enacted, the new Ombudsman will have to prepare a report of completed investigations into alleged maladministration, setting out their findings. Recommendations may also be made. A copy of the report will need to be sent to the Defence Council (for the chain of command to respond), the complainant and any other persons who may be specified in Secretary of State regulations. The Ombudsman may also, in accordance with the Bill, send a copy of the report to any person whom they consider appropriate.