Post by cammy on Jul 2, 2009 13:31:17 GMT 1
The complaints commissioner for the armed forces has been praised by MPs for an excellent first year performance. A report from the Commons defence committee said that Dr Susan Atkins provided a much-needed alternative point of contact for servicemen and women who feel they have been discriminated against or bullied.
But the committee warned that the commissioner had not been granted the full range of powers originally envisaged for the role.
The service complaints commissioner position was originally established through the Armed Forces Act 2006, following recommendations from the Deepcut review and the defence committee's report on 'duty of care'.
But Atkins has not been granted any powers to intervene in the handling of complaints or the ability to re-open cases.
Committee chairman James Arbuthnot said: "It is still too early to decide whether the commissioner has sufficient powers; and we believe that the commissioner will be much better placed to judge that for herself in her next annual report."
He recommended that the next defence committee should take evidence from Atkins at "the appropriate time".
Dr Atkins was also praised for setting "tough yet achievable goals" for the three services, the Ministry of Defence and her own office in her first annual report.
But the MPs stated: "We hope that the failure properly to lay the first annual report of the commissioner before Parliament is in no way indicative of the low profile accorded to the work of the commissioner by the MoD."
Arbuthnot said the MoD should provide the commissioner "with the resources which she feels are necessary to carry out the tasks entrusted to her".
This includes additional resources to ensure good customer service and deal with an expected increase in cases.
The committee report also recommended that the commissioner should make regular visits to military bases and operational theatres to gain a better understanding of how the system operates.
And MPs supported the commissioner's request to receive reports on non-combat deaths.
But the committee warned that the commissioner had not been granted the full range of powers originally envisaged for the role.
The service complaints commissioner position was originally established through the Armed Forces Act 2006, following recommendations from the Deepcut review and the defence committee's report on 'duty of care'.
But Atkins has not been granted any powers to intervene in the handling of complaints or the ability to re-open cases.
Committee chairman James Arbuthnot said: "It is still too early to decide whether the commissioner has sufficient powers; and we believe that the commissioner will be much better placed to judge that for herself in her next annual report."
He recommended that the next defence committee should take evidence from Atkins at "the appropriate time".
Dr Atkins was also praised for setting "tough yet achievable goals" for the three services, the Ministry of Defence and her own office in her first annual report.
But the MPs stated: "We hope that the failure properly to lay the first annual report of the commissioner before Parliament is in no way indicative of the low profile accorded to the work of the commissioner by the MoD."
Arbuthnot said the MoD should provide the commissioner "with the resources which she feels are necessary to carry out the tasks entrusted to her".
This includes additional resources to ensure good customer service and deal with an expected increase in cases.
The committee report also recommended that the commissioner should make regular visits to military bases and operational theatres to gain a better understanding of how the system operates.
And MPs supported the commissioner's request to receive reports on non-combat deaths.