§ Lord Bassam of BrightonThe Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has today announced in response to a request from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (the Ombudsman) that he has agreed to extend her jurisdiction to include the role of the Government Actuary's Department in relation to the prudential regulation of insurers prior to this function being transferred to the Financial Services Authority in April 2001. This will enable the Ombudsman to conduct a full investigation into Equitable Life. The amendment to the legislation to make this change will be made as soon as possible.