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31-535: Although the first UK Ombudsman, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration , was established in 1967, followed by the Insurance Ombudsman and other private sector Ombudsman schemes, the first time the title Ombudsman was used by Parliament was to establish the office of Pensions Ombudsman in 1991. The first Pensions Ombudsman was Michael Platt, who had previously been a civil servant. He

62-558: A Government department or a public authority after a Member of Parliament has referred a complaint by a member of public who claims to have suffered injustice as a result of maladministration. The Ombudsman may investigate maladministration or a failure of service within the National Health Service upon receiving a complaint by anyone who claims to have suffered injustice as a result of that maladministration or service failure. The Ombudsman possesses wide powers of investigation and

93-558: A barrister who was previously Strategy Lawyer at the Pensions Regulator. On 1 July 2020 Claire Ryan, the existing Legal Director, was appointed Deputy Pensions Ombudsman. In May 2015 Tony King was succeeded by Anthony Arter, a solicitor and former police officer who was Eversheds LLP London Senior Partner and Head of Pensions. The Pensions Ombudsman, together with the Pensions Regulator. the Pensions Advisory Service and

124-594: A combined Health and Local Government watchdog, which would be able to instigate investigations as it sees fit, instead of them being triggered by patient complaints. Rob Behrens said in November 2018 after the publication of a favourable report into the organisation by the Republic of Ireland ombudsman that he wanted a change in the law so the Ombudsman could launch investigations without a formal complaint. He wanted it to become

155-541: A complaints standards authority with regulatory powers over the NHS as is the case in Scotland. The report said the law regulating the office was outdated and out of line with similar organisations in the UK and elsewhere. Some issues highlighted by Liam Donaldson in 2018 following the "avoidable death" of Oliver McGowan remain to be addressed. Millbank Tower Millbank Tower

186-524: A demonstration called by the National Union of Students , which was campaigning against the Coalition government's increase of tuition fees; Millbank was the location of Conservative Campaign Headquarters at the time. The demonstration and occupation helped spawn further student protests that year . The Millbank Tower has been home to many high-profile political and other organisations. From 1994 to 2002

217-578: A mortgage of £5.5 million to relocate to 16–18 Old Queen Street, overlooking St James's Park , which had 11,200 square feet of open plan premises. The United Nations also had offices in the tower, but moved out in June 2003, also citing high rents. Other public bodies have continued to occupy the building, including the Central Statistical Office , the predecessor of the Office for National Statistics ;

248-423: A remedy to put things right can be proposed. This can include an apology, a compensation payment for hardship or injustice and compensation for financial loss. Although the Ombudsman does not possess the power to compel a public authority to adhere to its findings, in practice, the public authority will comply. In 2010–11, more than 99% of the individual recommendations for remedy made by the Ombudsman were accepted by

279-629: A solicitor who was previously a Director of the Local Government Ombudsman service and chief executive of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority . He was also President of the Adjudication Panel for England , a body which dealt with allegations about the conduct of members of local authorities . Tony King was the Ombudsman from September 2007 to May 2015. Tony King was previously a Principal Ombudsman in

310-454: A stage where they can be investigated, usually because the complainant has not completed the complaints procedure of the organisation complained about. Complaints about the NHS in England do not require an MP referral but both complaint processes require that the organisation complained about has had the opportunity to put things right. The Ombudsman may investigate the administrative actions of

341-669: Is a 119-metre-high (390 ft) skyscraper in the City of Westminster at Millbank , by the River Thames in London , England. The tower was constructed in 1963, and has been home to many high-profile political organisations, including the Labour and Conservative parties, and the United Nations . The tower was constructed in 1963 for Vickers and was therefore originally known as Vickers House or

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372-468: Is able to determine the procedure for the investigation and to obtain information from such people as required. In respect of the gathering of evidence and the examination of witnesses, the Ombudsman has the same authority as the High Court . Defiance of these powers can be treated as contempt of court . If the Ombudsman finds that there has been injustice caused by maladministration or a failure in service,

403-642: Is independent of both the Government and the civil service and reports annually to both Houses of Parliament. The current Ombudsman is Rebecca Hilsenrath who has held the post since April 2024. The offices of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman are at Millbank Tower , London, however the majority of staff are now based in Manchester . The creation of the post of the Parliamentary Ombudsman

434-714: The BT Tower 's completion in 1964, Millbank Tower was the tallest building in the United Kingdom. The 2003 edition of the Pevsner architectural guide says that the Millbank Tower is "one of the few London office towers to have won affection", and contrasts it with the "boxy structure" of the Shell Tower at Waterloo . In 2010, the building was surrounded and occupied by thousands of student protesters who spontaneously branched off from

465-462: The Comptroller and Auditor General . He was succeeded by Sir Alan Marre, a career civil servant. He was the first Ombudsman appointed for the National Health Service and combined that role with that of the Parliamentary Ombudsman as have all his successors. He later became chairman of Age Concern . The post was held by Dame Julie Mellor DBE from January 2012 until July 2016. By law, complaints made to

496-824: The Environment Agency , the World Bank (moved out in early 2022), Altitude 360 London, foreign exchange specialists World First, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust , the UK India Business Council , the London office of Medopad , Canonical Ltd , the Audit Commission , event caterers Salt and Pepper, Private Food Design, the firm Lewis PR, the London office of the Open Society Foundations ,

527-462: The Labour Party rented two floors in the base at the south of the site, for use as a general election campaign centre. Labour ran its 1997 General Election campaign from these offices; after the election, the party vacated its headquarters at John Smith House , Walworth Road SE17, to move to Millbank. Five years later, the £1 million per annum rent forced the party to vacate the tower and take out

558-621: The Local Government Boundary Commission for England , XLN Telecom and Leave.EU . The building also housed the studios for RT UK prior to its closure in 2022. From April 2018, the office of the now-defunct People's Vote campaign was based in the tower. In April 2016, the Reuben brothers were granted permission by Westminster City Council to redevelop the building, notwithstanding its Grade II Listed status. The resulting development will comprise 207 high-end apartments,

589-653: The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman ; the Local Government Ombudsman; the UK India Business Council ; and the Ministry of Justice Records Management Service. Between 2006 and 2014, the Conservative Party based its campaign headquarters at 30 Millbank, in the same complex as Millbank Tower. Other floors in the tower are or have been occupied by organisations and commercial companies, including

620-572: The Vickers Tower . It was designed by Ronald Ward and Partners and built by John Mowlem & Co . It is a landmark on the London skyline, standing beside the River Thames, half a mile upstream from the Palace of Westminster . The tower has been owned by David and Simon Reuben since 2002, while still being managed by its former owner Tishman Speyer Properties . It is a Grade II listed building. Until

651-599: The Financial Assistance Scheme, established by the Government to provide assistance to those whose pensions have been lost due to an employer going into liquidation . As with other ombudsmen services, the Pensions Ombudsman has been accused of both being biased towards complainants and being biased towards the companies that pay the levy. However, the levy is a statutory requirement which pension schemes have to pay anyway. There have also been criticisms of

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682-668: The Financial Ombudsman Service. The role of Deputy Pensions Ombudsman was created in December 2004. The first holder of the post was Charlie Gordon, a barrister and Senior Inspector of Taxes who was previously head of the Adjudicator's Office. Jane Irvine, previously Chair of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, held the post from November 2009 to May 2015. Jane Irvine was succeeded by Karen Johnston,

713-663: The Health Service Commissioner for England (HSC). The Ombudsman is responsible for considering complaints by the public that UK Government departments, public authorities and the National Health Service in England have not acted properly or fairly or have provided a poor service. The Ombudsman is appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and is accountable to Parliament . The Ombudsman

744-471: The Ombudsman are susceptible to judicial review by the courts. However, it has been held that the court would not readily interfere with the exercise of the Ombudsman's discretion. From 19 August 2014, members of the public have been able to search the summaries of investigations that the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman has completed and published on their website. In October 2014, Julie Mellor and Local Government Ombudsman Jane Martin argued for

775-399: The Parliamentary Ombudsman about UK Government departments and other UK public organisations must be referred by a Member of Parliament (MP). This is sometimes referred to as the 'MP filter'. The Ombudsman will only look into complaints if the organisation complained about has been given the opportunity to put things right first. The Ombudsman often receives enquiries which have not yet reached

806-578: The Pensions Registry, are funded by a levy on occupational pension schemes. The Ombudsman's services are free to complainants and respondents, and the Ombudsman's jurisdiction extends to many pension arrangements that are not subject to the levy. Since April 2005, the holder of the office of Pensions Ombudsman has also acted as the Ombudsman for the Pension Protection Fund , and in that capacity also deals with appeals against decisions made by

837-479: The appeal process, which involves the cost of action in the higher courts, and the legalistic approach to casework. The Pensions Ombudsman's claim that it is a 'court' for certain purposes has been disputed. Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman ( PHSO ) comprises the offices of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (PCA) and

868-493: The body complained about. In rare instances where the body complained about does not accept the Ombudsman's findings, the Ombudsman may lay a report before Parliament explaining that the injustice done to the complainant has not been, or will not likely to be, remedied. In such an event, the Select Committee that oversees the work of the Ombudsman is able to examine the matter and reach its own conclusions. Reports issued by

899-494: Was created later, under the Health Service Commissioners Act 1993 . The office of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman emphasises that it looks into complaints "that government departments, their agencies and some other public bodies in the UK – and the NHS in England – have not acted properly or fairly or have provided a poor service." The first UK Ombudsman was Sir Edmund Compton who had previously been

930-604: Was spurred on by the 1954 Crichel Down affair and by the activism of pressure groups, including the Society for Individual Freedom . The position was created, and his or her powers are documented in, the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 , the most notable section of which is section 4 and Schedule 2, which constrain the powers of the incumbent ombudsman. Among other things, the ombudsman cannot investigate personnel and commercial actions. The position of HSC

961-595: Was succeeded by Dr. Julian Farrand QC(Hon), formerly the Insurance Ombudsman. Prior to his work as an Ombudsman, Dr Farrand had been a Law Commissioner and a University Professor. He is married to Baroness Hale , also previously a Law Commissioner and the first woman to be a member of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords , now the Supreme Court, the UK's highest court. Dr Farrand was succeeded by David Laverick,

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