Review of UK Public Services Ombudsmen
The UK Law Commission has announced it is conducting a review of the law relating to the public services ombudsmen. On 2 September 2010, it published a consultation paper, which contains detailed provisional proposals for reform. A press release is also available.
The public services ombudsmen have been created over the last 43 years to handle administrative complaints against public bodies, such as local authorities or central government departments. The public services ombudsmen are:
Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
Health Service Ombudsman
Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Local Government Ombudsman
Housing Ombudsman
Their work covers almost all aspects of governmental activity, from the provision of health care or adult social care to war pensions.
The project is concerned with examining the legislative structure of the public services ombudsmen with a view to its reform. The aim is to make recommendations with a view to reforming the legislation so that:
- the public services ombudsmen have the tools they need to dispose of their statutory tasks in an efficient, transparent and effective manner;
- complainants have a clear and comprehensible redress system to remedy administrative failures;
- Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales have a stronger relationship with the public services ombudsmen.
Responding to the consultation paper
The consultation period will run until 03 December 2010. You can send your response in hard copy to Keith Vincent at the Law Commission, or electronically to the team. The provisional proposals put forward in the consultation paper represent the Law Commission’s initial view about how the law should be reformed and it will be reviewing these proposals on the basis of the responses to the consultation paper. Responses are welcomed from all interested parties.
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