Investigation by PHSO into complaints-handling at the Charity Commission to be examined by MPs
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) will scrutinise investigations undertaken by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) about the Charity Commission.
The session will focus on the PHSO’s reports into two specific complaints, lodged by Mr Damian Murray and Ms Lara Hall. The reports related to safeguarding issues at certain charities and the way the Charity Commission responded to the concerns which were raised. The PHSO laid both reports before Parliament as the Ombudsman had concluded that the Charity Commission had not fully complied with its recommendations in either case.
Meeting details
The hearing will be split between two panels. First, representatives from the PHSO will be questioned on their investigations. This will then be followed by a second panel with senior officials from the Charity Commission, including the Chair, Dame Julia Unwin.
MPs on the Committee are likely to probe on why the PHSO decided it was necessary to take the action it did. The Committee will also look at some of the specific concerns raised by the complainants, both of whom submitted their initial complaints to the Commission back in 2018.