§ Sue DoughtyTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) whether the Better Regulation Task Force accepts submissions from members of the public who have made use of the services of the Financial Ombudsman Service on whether its powers should be curbed; [166903]
(2) whether the Better Regulation Task Force is conducting investigations into the powers of the Financial Ombudsman Service; and if he will make a statement; [166904]
(3) what concerns regarding the powers of the Financial Ombudsman Service have been brought to the attention of the Better Regulation Task Force; and how these concerns were raised with the Better Regulation Task Force. [166905]
706W
§ Mr. AlexanderThe Better Regulation Task Force is considering the Ombudsman Service's rulings as part of a wider study into "regulatory creep". It has defined "regulatory creep" as "regulation or compliance with regulation that goes beyond the original source of authority or intention". Further details of this study are set out on the task force's website, http://www.brtf.gov.uk/taskforce/pressreleases/creepreg.htm. As with all its studies, the task force invites submissions from members of the public. During the course of each study the task force seeks the views of a wide range of stakeholders. It will publish its findings in the summer.