Select committee: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 34
Sixth Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021–22
Published 31 Mar 2023
Paragraph 102
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 ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
Ahead of the next annual scrutiny hearing, the PHSO should provide an update to the Committee on progress with its outreach activities and any evidence of its impact on the diversity of complainants and types of complaints it receives. We would welcome clarification on whether complainant diversity data in the Annual Report and Accounts could be used to assess whether correlations exist between complainants’ backgrounds, the types of complaint they make, and their routes to complain.
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Sixth Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021–22 (HC 745), paragraph 102, 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".