Select committee: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Recommendation 9
First Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2020–21
Published 20 May 2022
Paragraph 43
Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2020-21 All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
The Committee welcomes the career development pathways and accreditation scheme put in place within the organisation, but also encourages the PHSO to look at possible new development opportunities within the organisation to encourage staff retention and to ensure there is minimal loss to institutional knowledge.
From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, First Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2020–21 (HC 213), paragraph 43, 20 May 2022
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 26 July 2022 (deadline 20 July 2022).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government says it "agree[s] that Ombudsman reform is an important matter" but states that wide-scale reform is not currently in its legislative programme, and it does not set out the legislative timetable the Committee asked for.
- The Government says it "continues to consider options for Ombudsman reform".
- It notes that the Queen's Speech announced a Victims Bill and that the consultation sets out an intention to remove the requirement for victims of crime to raise a complaint through an MP, via primary legislation.
- The Victims Bill will be introduced to Parliament "in due course"; no date is given.
- If it wishes to make proposals for wider Ombudsman reform, the minister says he will engage with the Committee.