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Ombuds and reviewers

This category contains 122 posts

The PHSO and section 10(3) reports: Why the select committee scrutinises the rejection of PHSO reports by government and why it should continue to do so

Robert Thomas (Professor of Public Law, University of Manchester) What happens when the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) finds maladministration by central government, recommends a remedy, but this is then rejected by government? This a timely issue to consider. In 2022, the PHSO published the Earl report which made findings of maladministration and injustice … Continue reading

The operation of the MP filter for complaining to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Robert Thomas is a Professor of Public Law the University of Manchester One of the oldest issues with the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) is the MP filter. People who want to complain to the PHSO about a government department or other public body must have their complaint referred to the ombudsman by an … Continue reading

The DWP’s Handling of the Migration of Disability Benefit Claimants to Employment and Support Allowance: The DWP’s Response to the Report of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (Part 1)

By Robert Thomas (University of Manchester) In January 2022, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) published its report into the handling, by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), of the migration of a disability benefit claimant, Mrs U, to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). More specifically, the key issues are: (a) whether the … Continue reading

State pension underpayments and the payment of interest

Robert Thomas, University of Manchester Should people underpaid their state pensions receive not just arrears for those underpayments, but also the interest on them in order to make up for inflation? The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) thinks not, but the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) thinks they should. The recent Parliamentary and Health Service … Continue reading

Financial Remedy Recommendations made by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Financial Remedy Recommendations made by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Robert Thomas (University of Manchester) This blog presents some data concerning financial compensation recommendations made by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) acquired through a freedom of information request. When the PHSO makes a finding of maladministration or service failure, it will consider … Continue reading