Talk of reform and renewal of the public service ombudsman sector has a long history (eg see our work), but across the UK it would seem that we have at last reached a significant tipping point from which the British version could mature into a more rationalised and powerful agent of administrative justice.
26
March 2015 finally saw the publication of the Gordon
review
of public services ombudsmen, which was commissioned by the Cabinet
Office in response to the 2014 Public Administration Select
Committee (PASC)
inquiry into the same topic. On the same day, the Cabinet
Office launched a consultation
on proposals for merging several ombudsman schemes in England. This process
follows on from the ongoing Welsh
Assembly inquiry into renewing the powers of the Public
Services Ombudsman for Wales, a scheme usually considered the most modern in
the UK. In Northern Ireland, a Bill
to update the office’s powers has nearly been drafted and awaits an Assembly
slot. Scotland has arguably had its innovatory renewal moment in the Public Services
Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, although here too further reform is
being mooted.
This
blog outlines the key themes that cover these developments. Many of the reforms
being canvassed have widespread support, but significant unresolved
issues remain. We also note the key role played by both devolution and parliamentary
committees in pushing ombudsman reform up the agenda of governments.
