§ Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last two years a report from the Ombudsman has resulted in a payment by his Department to the complainant. [135223]
§ Fiona Mactaggart[holding answer 3 November 2003]For the year 2001–02, 21 cases resulted in payment by the Department.
Six were as a result of investigation (two of which were discontinued before full report was issued). £6,185.00. 15 cases resolved short of statutory investigation i.e. by inquiry of Department. £2,650.00.
For the year 2002–03, 47 cases resulted in payment by the Department. 13 were as a result of investigation (four of which were discontinued before full report was issued). £13,359.00. 34 cases resolved short of statutory investigation i.e. by inquiry of Department. £4,167.00.
Information on the handling of complaints is set out in tabular form by the Parliamentary Ombudsman each year as an attachment to his Annual Report. For those complaints where there was evidence of maladministration which warranted a full investigation, the table sets out how many complaints were upheld as being fully or partially justified. Copies of the Parliamentary Ombudsman's Annual Report can be viewed in the Library, or on the Parliamentary Ombudsman's website at www.ombudsman.org.uk/publications.