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Consultation launched today on reform of public sector Ombudsman services

A consultation paper on reform of public sector Ombudsman services was launched today by John Hutton, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The proposed reforms, which are an important element of the Public Service Reform Programme, will enable the Ombudsmen to work together more effectively and provide complainants with a more effective and streamlined service.

The Public Sector Ombudsmen concerned are the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Health Service Commissioner for England, and the three Local Government Ombudsmen in England.

The main proposals are to:

• Enable the Ombudsmen to consult each other and work together on cases and issues that are relevant to more than one of them.
• Give the Ombudsmen powers to seek the resolution of a complaint through more informal means without having to conduct a formal investigation.
• Provide powers for the Ombudsmen to issue advice and guidance on good administrative practice to those who deliver our public services.

John Hutton, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who is responsible for leading the Public Services Reform agenda across government, said:

‘Reforming Public Services around the needs of the individual user is a key aim of this Government.

‘The Public Sector Ombudsmen handle a large number of complaints relating to the quality and effectiveness of public services and have a vital role to play in contributing to their improvement.

‘These reforms, which have been developed in close partnership with the Ombudsmen, will help to create a modern, responsive and co-ordinated complaints handling service, in effect a “One-stop shop”, which will benefit all those who use our public services.’

The consultation period will close on Friday 18 November.

Notes to editors

• Copies of the consultation document can be found at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/parliamentary_ombudsman/ombudsmenreform.asp
• The posts of Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and Health Service Commissioner for England are both held by Ann Abraham. The three Local Government Ombudsman in England are Tony Redmond, Patricia Thomas, and Jerry White.
• These proposed changes to legislation are intended to be implemented by way of a Regulatory Reform Order. The Regulatory Reform Act 2001 gave ministers the power to use such orders to reform burdensome primary legislation, subject to public consultation and careful scrutiny by committees in both Houses of Parliament.

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