§ Annabelle EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what payments have been made to individuals following findings of maladministration by ombudsmen with responsibility for agencies under the remit of his Department in the last 12 months; and what plans he has to review the powers to increase the level of awards that can be made. [47954]
§ Dr. Whitehead[holding answer 10 April 2002]: The Department has made four such payments totalling £535,215.54 to individuals in the past 12 months.
There are no statutory limits to the level of payments that can be made. Payments are based on the merits of individual cases.