Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman: Complaints
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what performance standards apply to the time taken by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman to allocate complaints for assessment.
Answered by Alison McGovern
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is operationally independent of central government, and the Ombudsman is accountable directly to Parliament for the use of their investigatory powers.
The Department does not routinely collect performance information or make specific assessments about the Ombudsman’s handling of complaints. The Ombudsman publishes a range of performance information on their website.
The Department maintains a sponsorship relationship with the Ombudsman, through which a range of corporate and operational matters are regularly discussed. However, the consideration and handling of complaints are operational matters for the Ombudsman. Decisions relating to the Ombudsman’s staffing and use of resources are also matters for the Ombudsman.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →