Government departments and other public bodies which the Ombudsman can investigate

Which bodies can we investigate?

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 about 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.

The list below 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 the Ombudsman can investigate. In addition, the Ombudsman can look at the administrative actions of the staff (not members) of certain courts and tribunals.

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

A

  • Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee
  • Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products
  • Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs
  • Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections
  • Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances
  • 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 Military Medicines
  • Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information
  • 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
  • Animals Procedures Committee
  • Appeal Officer for Community Interest Companies
  • Arts and Humanities Research Council
  • Arts Council of England (Arts Council England)

B

  • Big Lottery Fund
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
  • Board of the Pension Protection Fund (financial assistance scheme functions only)
  • 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

 

C

  • 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
  • Chief Executive of Skills Funding, The (Skills Funding Agency)
  • Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC)
  • Child Poverty 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 Rural Communities
  • Committee on Climate Change 
  • 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 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)
  • Council for Science and Technology
  • Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
  • Criminal Records Bureau (part of the Home Office)
  • Crown Estate Office
  • Cycling England

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D

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

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E

  • Economic and Social Research Council
  • Electoral Commission
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
  • Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
  • 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
  • Equality 2025
  • Ethics Group: National DNA Database, The
  • Ethnic Minority Business Forum
  • Expert Advisory Group on AIDS
  • Export Credits Guarantee Department

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F

  • Director of Fair Access to Higher Education, The (OFFA)
  • Farm Animal Welfare Council
  • Film Industry Training Board for England and Wales
  • Firebuy Limited
  • Food from Britain
  • Food Standards Agency
  • Football Licensing Authority
  • Foreign and Commonwealth Office
  • Forestry Commission
  • Fuel Poverty Advisory Group

 

G

  • 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)
  • Great Britain-China Centre, The

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H

  • Health and Safety Executive
  • Health Protection Agency
  • Her Majesty's Stationery Office
  • Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee
  • Heritage Lottery Fund (see National Heritage Memorial Fund)
  • High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd
  • Higher Education Funding Council for England
  • Highways Agency (part of Department for Transport)
  • Historic Royal Palaces
  • HM Courts and Tribunals 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
  • Horniman Public Museum and Public Park Trust, The
  • Horserace Betting Levy Board
  • Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
  • Human Genetics Commission
  • Human Tissue Authority

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I

  • Identity and Passport Service (part of Home Office)
  • Immigration Services Commissioner
  • Imperial War Museum
  • Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV
  • Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody
  • Independent Agricultural Appeals Panel
  • 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 Safeguarding Authority
  • Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB
  • Industrial Development Advisory Board
  • Industrial Injuries Advisory Council
  • Information Commissioner
  • Infrastructure Planning Commission
  • International Rail Regulator, The (see Office of Rail Regulation)

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J

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

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L

  • Land Registry
  • Law Commission
  • Leasehold Advisory Service, The
  • Legal Services Commission
  • Local Better Regulation Office
  • Local Government Boundary Commission for England
  • Lord President of the Council's Office (part of the Cabinet Office)
  • Low Pay Commission

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M

  • Marine Management Organisation
  • Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) (part of Department for Transport)
  • Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
  • Medical Education England
  • 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

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N

  • National Archives, The
  • National Army Museum
  • National Clinical Audit Advisory Group
  • National Consumer Council (Consumer Focus)
  • National Employer Advisory Board
  • National Employment Savings Trust Corporation
  • National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)
  • National Forest Company
  • National Gallery
  • National Heritage Memorial Fund (including Heritage Lottery Fund)
  • 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 Museum of the Royal Navy
  • National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside
  • National Offender Management Service (part of Ministry for Justice)
  • National Policing Improvement Agency
  • National Portrait Gallery
  • National Standing Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources
  • Natural England
  • Natural Environment Research Council
  • Natural History Museum
  • Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
  • Northern Ireland Office (remaining functions)
  • Nuclear Decommissioning Authority
  • Nuclear Liabilities Financing Assurance Board
  • Nuclear Liabilities Fund
  • Nuclear Research Advisory Council
  • Nutrition Forum

 O

  • 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
  • Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation
  • Office of Rail Regulation, The (including the International Rail Regulator)
  • Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
  • Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
  • Official receiver
  • Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court, The
  • Olympic Delivery Authority
  • Olympic Lottery Distributor
  • Ordnance Survey

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P

  • Parades Commission for Northern Ireland
  • Parole Board
  • Partnerships for Schools
  • Passengers' Council (Passenger Focus)
  • Pensions Regulator
  • Pension, Disability and Carers Service (part of Department for Work and Pensions)
  • Pesticide Residues Committee
  • Planning Inspectorate (part of Department for Communities and Local Government)
  • Postal Services Commission (Postcomm)
  • Probation trusts
  • Public Record Office (National Archives)

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Q

  • Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency

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R

  • Railway Heritage Committee
  • Regional Advisory Committees (of the Forestry Commission) 
  • Regional Development Agencies (other than the London Development Agency)
  • Registrar General for England and Wales
  • 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 and Objects of Cultural Interest
  • 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 Mint
  • Rural Payments Agency (part of Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

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S

  • School Food Trust
  • Science and Technology Facilities Council
  • Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
  • Science Advisory Committee on the Medical Implications of Less Lethal Weapons
  • Sea Fish Industry Authority
  • Security Industry Authority
  • Sentencing Council for England and Wales
  • Serious Organised Crime Agency (HM Revenue & Customs functions only)
  • Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (part of Ministry of Defence)
  • Sir John Soane's Museum
  • Social Fund Commissioner (Independent Review Service for the Social Fund)
  • Social Science Research Committee
  • Social Security Advisory Committee
  • Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
  • Standards Board for England
  • Statistics Board
  • Sustainable Development Commission Ltd

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T

  • 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

 

U

  • UK Anti-Doping Ltd.
  • 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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V

  • 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

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W

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

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Y

  • Young People’s Learning Agency for England, The
  • Youth Justice Board for England and Wales

Z

  • Zoos Forum

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