§ Ms Rosie WintertonTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what he will do to ease public access and improve efficiency in dealing with complaints across different public services in England. [79668]
§ Dr. Jack CunninghamI am pleased to announce that the Government are about to undertake a review of the organisation of public sector ombudsmen in England. The review will be conducted by a team in the Cabinet Office and its terms of reference are as follows
The review will consider whether the present arrangements for the organisation of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, the Health Service Commissioner for England and the Local Government Ombudsman in England are in the best interest of complainants and others against a background of moves towards the more integrated provision of public services; and whether those arrangements hinder achieving better value for money.The review will also consider the potential interaction between those ombudsmen and other independent complaints authorities, such as the Independent Housing Ombudsman and the Data Protection Registrar.The review will make recommendations about the public sector Ombudsmen, including recommendations on their statutory powers and duties, having regard for constitutional issues.This review will support the Modernising Government agenda by examining the scope for a more joined-up ombudsman system for England.