New report from Parliamentary Ombudsman says reform of the MP filter is long overdue
The overwhelming majority of respondents to the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s recent direct access consultation support the removal of the legal requirement for complaints to her Office to be referred by an MP, according to a report on the consultation published today. Of 113 responses received, 91 expressed a direct preference for removing the MP filter, with strong support for a ‘dual track’ approach which would allow complainants the option of either making a complaint through an MP or accessing the Parliamentary Ombudsman directly.
Commenting on the responses, the Parliamentary Ombudsman, Ann Abraham said: ‘The responses we received demonstrate that there is a consensus…. that reform is long overdue and that citizens should have direct access to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.’
Respondents included members of the public, MPs, advice and advocacy organisations and the government. Over 75 per cent of responses from bodies within the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction supported removal of the filter, with one response, from the Office of Fair Trading, describing it as: ‘out of step with the trend towards greater accountability and transparency on the part of government departments and public bodies’.
While over half the responses opposed to direct access came from MPs, respondents from all sectors acknowledged the important role that MPs play in resolving constituents’ grievances and supporting the independence, authority and effectiveness of the Ombudsman.
Describing her role as assisting Parliament to drive improvements in public services, Ms Abraham explained: ‘Redress systems should not be designed for the ease and comfort of the bodies complained about, for political representatives or for those… who make decisions about disputes. They should be designed with the user in mind.
‘The challenge is to convince Parliamentarians that direct access to the Parliamentary Ombudsman can be achieved without disturbing the relationship between my Office and Parliament, and between an MP and their constituent.’
The debate about direct access will now be taken forward by the Public Administration Select Committee. The Committee and the Ombudsman will jointly conduct a survey of MPs about the filter.
The full report on the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s direct access consultation is available at www.ombudsman.org.uk/directaccess
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Notes to Editors
- Ann Abraham holds the post of Parliamentary Ombudsman and is also Health Service Ombudsman. She is appointed by the Crown and is completely independent of Government and the NHS. She can look into complaints that government departments, a range of other public bodies in the UK, and the NHS in England, have not acted properly or fairly or have provided a poor service.
- The requirement for an MP referral (known as the ‘MP Filter’) only applies to complaints made about government bodies or agencies. People can already bring NHS complaints directly to the Health Service Ombudsman and do not need their complaint to be referred by an MP.
- The MP Filter has been in existence since the creation of the Parliamentary Ombudsman in 1967. It was devised during the process of adapting the Scandinavian Ombudsman concept to the needs of the UK Parliament.
- The Ombudsman has given a commitment that, should the MP filter be removed, the costs of any rise in complaints will be absorbed within existing resources.
- For media enquiries, please call the Press Office on 0300 061 4996 or email press@ombudsman.org.uk.
