§ Mr. BreedTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many complaints were registered against her Department and its predecessor Departments in 161W (a) 1990 to 1996 and (b) 1997 to 2002; how many are current; and what proportion were (i) taken up and (ii) upheld by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in those periods. [51224]
§ Estelle Morris[holding answer 19 April 2002]: The number of complaints received by the Department and its predecessor Departments for the dates stated can be provided only at disproportionate costs.
Any and all complaints referred to the Parliamentary Ombudsman are accounted for in their annual reports, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, or on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website www.ombudsman.org.uk/pca/document/par01/index.
The Department's current complaints procedure complies with Standard Five of the Six Service Standards for Central Government. Complaints can be made in writing, by fax, by e-mail, by telephone or in person (by appointment). More information can he found on the DfES website at www.dfes.gov.uk/compl.shtml.