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Select committee: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Sixth Special Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021–22: Government and PHSO response

Published 16 June 2023

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021-22 Report on parliament.uk ↗

At a glance

The government's response

This document responds to Sixth Report - Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Scrutiny 2021–22.

This is the government's response, published 16 June 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".

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

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