Select committee: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Conclusion 16
Sixth Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021–22
Published 31 Mar 2023
Paragraph 56
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021-22 All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The Committee welcomes the positive results of the staff survey, which saw increases in scores in headline areas, such as leadership and managing change, inclusion, and learning and development. The only headline score to deteriorate was related to pay and benefits, which the Committee recognises reflects similar trends across the public sector and wider economy, alongside difficulties in recruiting in areas such as digital and programming. The Committee also welcomes the continued positive statistics on the diversity of the PHSO’s workforce, particularly in terms of gender and Asian, Black, Mixed Ethnicity and Other Ethnicity Group representation, and the culture of diversity and inclusion the leadership team are seeking to embed in the organisation. However, we note the under representation of employees aged over 50 compared to the population benchmark.
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Sixth Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021–22 (HC 745), paragraph 56, 31 March 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 16 June 2023 (deadline 31 May 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government states it is "supportive of the Ombudsman" and responds to two recommendations, one on the Complaint Standards and one on legislative reform, where it is "not convinced that fundamental reform is a priority at the current time".
- On the Complaint Standards, the Government is "supportive" and pleased that departments including the Cabinet Office have come forward as early adopters.
- It says it is right that the Cabinet Office should work with other departments to encourage adoption, but only on the condition that the Standards "are shown to be working in practice". It gives no date, and does not address the end-2023 sign-up target.
- On legislative reform, it considers its system "effective in the context in which it operates" and is not convinced that legislation is "the answer to many of the identified issues". It sets out no legislative timetable.
- It is "content to keep this under review" and to look at specific reform proposals "on a case by case basis".