Author: Great Britain: Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2007-03-27

Total Pages: 32

ISBN-13: 9780102944730

This publication contains an article by Dr Richard Kirkham, Lecturer in the School of Law at Sheffield University, on the history of the post of Parliamentary Ombudsman to mark the 40th anniversary of its establishment, together with a foreword written by the current postholder, Ann Abraham. The paper discusses the origins of the Office and its creation through the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, as well as its existing and future role, the changing landscape of the administrative justice system and possible amendments to Office's powers. The paper concludes that "a few required amendments aside, the Parliamentary Commissioner Act remains a good piece of legislation and the constitution is much stronger for the Parliamentary Ombudsman. As well as improving the power of the citizen to gain redress, as was originally intended, Parliament itself has gained a valuable tool in the ongoing process of calling the government to account."