asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the acceptance by the Local Government Ombudsman that objections on grounds of maladministration to a particular project being proceeded with come within his remit for consideration and judgment should result in work on the project being suspended; and if he will make a statement.

Section 26(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 makes it clear that there is no obligation on a local authority to suspend action on a matter under investigation by the Ombudsman. A local authority is, however, free to decide to do so in the light of its own judgment of the circumstances of each case.