New Clause 8
Charities Bill [Lords]
3:00 pm
The Charity Independent Complaints Reviewer
‘After section 2D of the 1993 Act (inserted by section 8 of this Act) insert—
“Part 1B
THE CHARITY INDEPENDENT COMPLAINTS REVIEWER
2E The Charity Independent Complaints Reviewer
(1) There shall be a complaints reviewer to be known as the Charity Independent Complaints Reviewer (in this Act referred to as “the Reviewer”).
(2) The function of the Reviewer will be to investigate complaints against the Charity Commission’s performance of its regulatory role and, where appropriate, make financial awards of compensation against the Charity Commission, whether limited consolatory payments or unlimited payments for financial loss, and make recommendations.
(3) Except where the Reviewer finds the complainant has acted frivolously, vexatiously or unreasonably, the complainant shall not be required to pay any part of the costs of the investigation.
(4) No complainant shall be required to use any internal complaints procedure of the Charity Commission, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Charity Tribunal or the courts before the Reviewer will consider the case, and any consideration by the Reviewer will not prevent the case subsequently being considered by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration or the courts.
(5) The Reviewer shall be appointed by the Lord Chancellor on such other terms as he, after consultation, shall think fit.”’.—[Martin Horwood.]