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There are a number of Government departments and other public bodies which the Ombudsman can investigate.

Before contacting us you should try to make your complaint to the organisation involved. After doing this, if you don't receive a satisfactory answer from the organisation or if you have not had a response, please contact our Helpline for further help and advice on 0345 015 4033.

Use the alphabet bar below for help with the name of the organisation you are seeking.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The Ombudsman can investigate complaints against the administrative actions of a wide range of government departments and other public bodies, listed below, or the actions of organisations acting on their behalf.

Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee
Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products
Advisory Committee on Advertising
Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs
Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections
Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances
Advisory Committee on Carbon Abatement
Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards
Advisory Committee on Consumer Engagement
Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection
Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances
Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites
Advisory Committee on Microbiological Safety of Food
Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships
Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes
Advisory Committee on Organic Standards
Advisory Committee on Pesticides
Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
Advisory Council on Historical Manuscripts
Advisory Council on Libraries
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Advisory Council on National Records and Archives (includes Advisory Council on Historical Manuscripts and Advisory Council on Public Records)
Advisory Council on Public Records
Advisory Group on Hepatitis
Advisory Group on Medical Countermeasures
Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils
Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information
Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate
Agricultural dwelling house advisory committees
Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales
Agricultural wages committees
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Air Quality Expert Group
Alcohol Education and Research Council
Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
Animals Procedures Committee
Appeal Officer for Community Interest Companies
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Arts Council of England (Arts Council England)
Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board

Better Regulation Commission
Big Lottery Fund
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Board of Trade
Boundary Commission for England
Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland
Boundary Commission for Scotland
Boundary Commission for Wales
British Council
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency
British Film Institute
British Hallmarking Council
British Library Board
British Museum
British Pharmacopoeia Commission
British Tourist Authority (VisitBritain)
Building Regulations Advisory Committee

Cabinet Office (parts of)
Capacity Builders
Capital for Enterprise Limited
Care Quality Commission
Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation
Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges
Central Office of Information
Certification Office for Trade Unions and Employers' Associations
Charity Commission
The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice for Northern Ireland
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS)
Civil Aviation Authority
Civil Justice Council
Coal Authority
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Commission for Equality and Human Rights
Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (Healthcare Commission)
Commission for Integrated Transport
Commission for Rural Communities
Commission for Social Care Inspection
Commission on Human Medicines
Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses
Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses (Northern Lighthouse Board)
Committee on the Biological Safety of Blood and Tissues for Transplantation
Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
Committee on the Medical Aspects of Air Pollutants
Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
Committee on Radioactive Waste Management
Committee on the Safety of Devices
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom
Community Development Foundation
Compensation Agency (part of the Northern Ireland Office)
Compensation Recovery Unit (part of Department for Work and Pensions)
Competition Commission
Competition Service
Construction Industry Training Board
Consumer Council for Water
Corporation of the Trinity House of Deptford Strond (Trinity House Lighthouse Service)
Correctional Services Accreditation Panel
Council for Science and Technology
Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
Criminal Records Bureau (part of the Home Office)
Crown Estate Office
Culture East Midlands
Culture North East
Culture North West
Culture South East
Culture South West
Culture West Midlands
Cycling England

Darwin Advisory Committee
Defence Nuclear Safety Committee
Defence Scientific Advisory Council
DEFRA Science Advisory Council
Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform
Department for Children, Schools and Families
Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Energy and Climate Change
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Department for International Development
Department for Transport
Department for Work and Pensions
Department of Health
Design Council
Disability and Carers Service (part of Department for Work and Pensions)
Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (part of Department for Transport)
Driving Standards Agency (part of Department for Transport)

Economic and Social Research Council
Electoral Commission
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
England Implementation Group for the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain
English Heritage (Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England)
English Partnerships (part of Homes and Communities Agency)
English Sports Council (Sport England)
English Tourist Board (Enjoy England)(part of VisitBritain)
Environment Agency
The Ethics Group: National DNA Database
Ethnic Minority Business Forum
Expert Advisory Group on AIDS
Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards
Export Credits Guarantee Department

The Director of Fair Access to Higher Education (OFFA)
Farm Animal Welfare Council
Film Industry Training Board for England and Wales
Firebuy Limited
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Food from Britain
Food Standards Agency
Football Licensing Authority
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Forensic Science Northern Ireland (part of the Northern Ireland Office)
Forestry Commission
Fuel Poverty Advisory Group
Futurebuilders Advisory Panel

Gambling Commission
Gangmasters Licensing Authority
Gas and Electricity Markets Authority (Ofgem)
Geffrye Museum
Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
General Advisory Committee on Science
General Social Care Council
Genetics and Insurance Committee
Government Actuary's Department (only certain functions to do with insurance companies)
Government Equalities Office
Government Offices (for English Regions)
The Great Britain-China Centre

Health and Safety Executive
Health Protection Agency
Her Majesty's Stationery Office
Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee
Heritage Lottery Fund (see National Heritage Memorial Fund)
Higher Education Funding Council for England
Highways Agency (part of Department for Transport)
Historic Royal Palaces
HM Courts Service (part of Ministry of Justice)
HM Prison Service (part of Ministry of Justice)
HM Revenue and Customs
HM Treasury (but not National Savings and Investments)
Home Office
Homes and Communities Agency
The Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust
Horserace Betting Levy Board
Housing Corporation
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Human Genetics Commission
Human Tissue Authority

Identity and Passport Service (part of Home Office)
Immigration Services Commissioner
Imperial War Museum
Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV
Independent Barring Board (Independent Safeguarding Authority)
Independent Living Fund (2006)
Independent Reconfiguration Panel
Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts (Monitor)
Independent Review Panel for Advertising
Independent Review Panel on the Classification of Borderline Products
Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB
Industrial Development Advisory Board
Information Commissioner
The International Rail Regulator (see Office of Rail Regulation)
Investors in People UK

Jobcentre Plus (part of Department for Work and Pensions)
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
Joint Nature Conservation Committee

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Land Registry
Law Commission
Learning and Skills Council for England
Leasehold Advisory Service
Legal Deposit Advisory Panel
Legal Services Commission
Legal Services Complaints Commissioner
Living East
Local Better Regulation Office
Lord President of the Council's Office (part of the Cabinet Office)
Low Pay Commission

Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) (part of Department for Transport)
Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
Medical Research Council
Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Justice
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

National Army Museum
National Biological Standards Board (UK)
National Clinical Audit Advisory Group
National Community Forum
National Consumer Council (Consumer Focus)
National Employer Advisory Board
National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)
National Forest Company
National Gallery
National Heritage Memorial Fund (including Heritage Lottery Fund)
National Housing and Planning Advice Unit
National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care
National Insurance Contributions Office (NICO) (part of HM Revenue & Customs)
National Joint Registry Steering Committe
National Lottery Commission
National Maritime Museum
National Museum of Science and Industry
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside
National Offender Management Service (part of Ministry for Justice)
National Policing Improvement Agency
National Portrait Gallery
National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group
Natural England
Natural Environment Research Council
Natural History Museum
Northern Ireland Court Service
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Northern Ireland Law Commission
Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission
Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Police Fund
Northern Ireland Policing Board
Northern Ireland Prison Service (part of the Northern Ireland Office)
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
Nuclear Liabilities Fund
Nuclear Research Advisory Council
Nutrition Forum

Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted)
Office for Tenants and Social Landlords (Tenant Services Authority)
Office of the Children's Commissioner
Office of Communications (Ofcom)
Office of Fair Trading
Office of the Public Guardian (part of Ministry of Justice)
Office of Public Sector Information
The Office of Rail Regulation (including the International Rail Regulator)
Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
Office of the Renewable Fuels Agency
Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
The Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court
Oil and Pipelines Agency
Olympic Delivery Authority
Olympic Lottery Distributor
Ordnance Survey

Parades Commission for Northern Ireland
Parole Board
Partnerships for Schools
Pensions Regulator
Pension Service (part of Department for Work and Pensions)
Personal Accounts Delivery Authority
Pesticide Residues Committee
Planning Inspectorate (part of Department for Communities and Local Government)
Postal Services Commission (Postcomm)
Postgraduate Medical Education and Training
Board
Probation Board for Northern Ireland
Public Record Office (National Archives)

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Quality Improvement Agency

Rail Passengers' Council (Passenger Focus)
Railway Heritage Committee
Regional Development Agencies (other than the London Development Agency)
Regional industrial development boards
Registrar of Public Lending Right
Remploy Ltd
Renewables Advisory Board
The Rent Service (TRS) (part of Department for Work and Pensions)
Residuary Bodies
Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art
Royal Air Force Museum
Royal Armouries Museum
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts (now merged with the Public Records Office as the National Archives)
Royal Marines Museum
Royal Mint
Royal Naval Museum
Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Royal Ulster Constabulary George Cross Foundation
Rural Payments Agency (part of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

School Food Trust
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
Sea Fish Industry Authority
Security Industry Authority
Sentencing Advisory Panel
Sentencing Guidelines Council
Serious Organised Crime Agency (HM Revenue & Customs functions only)
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (part of Ministry of Defence)
Sir John Soane's Museum
SITPRO Ltd
Social Fund Commissioner (Independent Review Service for the Social Fund)
Social Science Research Committee
Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
Standards Board for England
Standing Dental Advisory Committee
Statistics Board
Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property Policy
Sustainable Development Commission

Tate Gallery
Tax Credits Office (part of HM Revenue & Customs)
Technology Strategy Board
Theatres Trust
Training and Development Agency for Schools
Treasure Valuation Committee
Treasury Solicitor's Department
Tribunals Service (part of the Ministry of Justice)

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UK Border Agency (part of Home Office)
UK Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee
UK Commission for Employment and Skills
UK Film Council
UK National Authority Advisory Group
UK Sports Council (UK Sport)
Union Modernisation Fund Supervisory Board
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
United Kingdom Xenotransplantation Interim Regulatory Authority
Unlinked Anonymous Surveys Steering Group
Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority
Urban development corporations established for urban development areas wholly in England

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Valuation Office Agency (part of HM Revenue & Customs)
Valuation Tribunal Service
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)(part of Department for Transport)
Veterinary Products Committee
Veterinary Residues Committee
Victims Advisory Panel
Victoria and Albert Museum

Wales Office
Wallace Collection
War pensions committees
Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat)
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Women's National Commission
Working Ventures UK

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Yorkshire Culture
Youth Justice Agency of Northern Ireland (part of the Northern Ireland Office)
Youth Justice Board for England and Wales
Zoos Forum

The above list cannot be comprehensive because the names and responsibilities of departments can change; and though not named here some bodies may be legally connected to, or acting on behalf of, others which she can investigate. In addition, the Ombudsman can look at the administrative actions of the staff (not members) of certain tribunals.

In some cases we cannot look into complaints against bodies listed above if the complaints concern Scotland or Wales. If in doubt please contact us.

Last updated: 5 June 2009