Commentary on Sections Section 34M: Consultation with other Commissioners
346.Under section 34M, if a Local Commissioner thinks that any matters which are the subject of the investigation include a matter that is potentially, or actually, the subject of another Ombudsman’s investigation, the Commissioner is required to consult with that other Ombudsman. The other Ombudsmen this applies to are the Parliamentary Commissioner, the Health Service Commissioner, the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, and the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. Subsection (5) imposes a similar obligation on the Parliamentary Commissioner. If the Parliamentary Commissioner is conducting an investigation and considers that the complaint relates partly to a matter which could be the subject of investigation by a Local Commissioner, then they must consult with the Local Commissioner. (A similar obligation is placed on the Health Service Commissioner under the 1993 Act).