Part 3Victims etc

Chapter 3Other matters relating to victims etc

Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses

F149ADuty to respond to Commissioner’s recommendations

(1)

This section applies where the Commissioner publishes a report under section 49(2)(b) or (4) containing recommendations to an authority within the Commissioner’s remit.

(2)

The relevant person must prepare comments on the report.

(3)

The relevant person is—

(a)

where the authority is a government department in the charge of a Minister of the Crown, the Minister, or

(b)

in any other case, the authority.

(4)

The comments must include, in respect of each recommendation made in the report, an explanation of—

(a)

the action which the relevant person has taken, or proposes to take, in response to the recommendation, or

(b)

why the relevant person has not taken, or does not propose to take, any action in response.

(5)

The relevant person must arrange for the comments to be published in such manner as the person considers appropriate.

(6)

The comments must be published before the end of the period of 56 days beginning with the day on which the report is published.

(7)

The relevant person must send a copy of anything published under subsection (6) to—

(a)

the Commissioner, and

(b)

(unless the authority is a government department in the charge of a Minister of the Crown) the Secretary of State.