FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
F.C.O. Reference PUC 1/5
RECEIVED IN
PRCHMS No.20
CIRCULAR 18/69
PUC 115
SAVING DESPATCH
17 February, 1969.
PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSIONER FOR ADMINISTRATION
In view of some recent individual enquiries that have been received, we have decided that it would be helpful to Governors/Administrators of Dependent Territories to have some information about the functions of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in Great Britain and the manner in which he
operates.
2.
The printed leaflet, copies of which are enclosed with this saving despatch, describes the scope of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration's jurisdiction and the way in which he conducts his business. It is not suggested that you should take any steps to publicise this information; the main purpose in sending it to you is to enable you to proffer advice in appropriate circumstances. A copy of the leaflet may be handed to any member of the public making enquiries.
3. As you will see from paragraph 3 of Annex B to the leaflet, the PCA may not investigate action taken in connection with the administration of the government of any country or territory outside the United Kingdom which forms part of Her Majesty's dominions or in which Her Majesty has jurisdiction. Thus it is probable that the occasions on which a resident of a Dependent Territory might have a complaint which the Parliamentary Commissioner could properly investigate will be extremely rare. But a situation might arise where a person normally resident in a Dependent Territory might allege that he had suffered an injustice at the hand of an official whilst in the United Kingdom on a visit. Alternatively, a person resident in a Dependent Territory might have a complaint stemming from a right or obligation arising in the United Kingdom.
4.
The PCA does receive a fair amount of correspondence from persons living abroad but is empowered to investigate complaints of maladministration only if they are referred to him by a member of the British House of Commons. If such correspondence is sent direct and not through a Member of the House of Commons,
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RESTRICTED