Chamber
Plenary, 28 Mar 2007
28 Mar 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
As a member of the SPCB reappointment panel, I speak to the motion in my name to invite members to agree to the nomination of Professor Alice Brown for appointment by Her Majesty the Queen for a second term as the Scottish public services ombudsman. To assist members' consideration of the motion, the SPCB has lodged a brief report that is available at the rear of the chamber.
The ombudsman was considered for reappointment by the SPCB sitting as a selection panel. The Presiding Officer was in the chair and an independent assessor was appointed to oversee the process. I am pleased to say that the assessor, Louise Rose, has provided a validation certificate to confirm that the process conformed to good practice and that the ombudsman is being nominated on merit. On the SPCB's behalf, I thank Louise Rose. She brought a wealth of appointment experience to the panel in ensuring that we complied with good practice and that the process was robust and fair.
On being appointed in 2002, the ombudsman had two competing priorities—dealing with continuing and new complaints and the difficult task of amalgamating the then three existing offices into a one-stop shop to give the public easier access to make complaints about maladministration or service failure in the public sector. It is to the credit of the ombudsman, her deputies and her staff that throughout the time of amalgamation, the office continued to be open for business to deal with complaints and inquiries from the public.
The number of complaints and investigations that the ombudsman undertakes has increased considerably since the one-stop shop was established. The ombudsman's remit was also extended following changes to the NHS complaints process and the inclusion of the further and higher education sectors. That has added to the number of complaints.
The ombudsman is uniquely placed to inform debate on issues that affect the public and those who deliver services, as she has a comprehensive overview of what is and is not working well in the delivery of public services. As we know, the ombudsman communicates her findings through individual investigative reports and her annual report. I encourage committees to consider those reports as appropriate and possibly to invite the ombudsman to meet them to discuss emerging trends, so that we can consider a strategic approach to addressing issues.
The ombudsman lays reports of her investigations before Parliament and produces a helpful monthly commentary on the reports that are laid.
The ombudsman was considered for reappointment by the SPCB sitting as a selection panel. The Presiding Officer was in the chair and an independent assessor was appointed to oversee the process. I am pleased to say that the assessor, Louise Rose, has provided a validation certificate to confirm that the process conformed to good practice and that the ombudsman is being nominated on merit. On the SPCB's behalf, I thank Louise Rose. She brought a wealth of appointment experience to the panel in ensuring that we complied with good practice and that the process was robust and fair.
On being appointed in 2002, the ombudsman had two competing priorities—dealing with continuing and new complaints and the difficult task of amalgamating the then three existing offices into a one-stop shop to give the public easier access to make complaints about maladministration or service failure in the public sector. It is to the credit of the ombudsman, her deputies and her staff that throughout the time of amalgamation, the office continued to be open for business to deal with complaints and inquiries from the public.
The number of complaints and investigations that the ombudsman undertakes has increased considerably since the one-stop shop was established. The ombudsman's remit was also extended following changes to the NHS complaints process and the inclusion of the further and higher education sectors. That has added to the number of complaints.
The ombudsman is uniquely placed to inform debate on issues that affect the public and those who deliver services, as she has a comprehensive overview of what is and is not working well in the delivery of public services. As we know, the ombudsman communicates her findings through individual investigative reports and her annual report. I encourage committees to consider those reports as appropriate and possibly to invite the ombudsman to meet them to discuss emerging trends, so that we can consider a strategic approach to addressing issues.
The ombudsman lays reports of her investigations before Parliament and produces a helpful monthly commentary on the reports that are laid.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5785, in the name of John Scott, on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, on the reappoint...
John Scott (Ayr) (Con):
Con
As a member of the SPCB reappointment panel, I speak to the motion in my name to invite members to agree to the nomination of Professor Alice Brown for appoi...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
Is the member aware that one deficiency of the reports that are presented to the Parliament is the lack of clarity about the internal workings of the ombudsm...
John Scott:
Con
I thank Mr Purvis for his intervention. We have of course raised that with the ombudsman, who assured us that she is addressing those matters, particularly t...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Mr Scott is aware that I have raised with him and the corporate body several concerns about the ombudsman's office's handling of complaints. I have expressed...
John Scott:
Con
We share Murdo Fraser's concerns. His point is similar to the point that Mr Purvis made. We have raised the matters that he asks about with the ombudsman at ...
Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green):
Green
Will the member take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
I am afraid that the member has only one minute left.
John Scott:
Con
I am sorry.The ombudsman has dealt with more than 14,000 complaints and inquiries since she took up office. We have received 20 complaints about the ombudsma...
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
I acknowledge the difficult task that the SPCB faces in undertaking such processes on behalf of members of the Scottish Parliament. As a consequence, I have ...
Mark Ballard:
Green
In that context, it is worth noting that the number of cases dealt with by the Scottish public services ombudsman has doubled between 2003 and the present da...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Con
Quickly.
Mark Ballard:
Green
Does John Swinney share my concern that, in a demand-led institution, without the proper funding there will be delays in timetables?
Mr Swinney:
SNP
That may be a reasonable point. I do not know whether Mr Ballard asked to speak in the debate, but he could have made that point in the debate.MSPs must be a...
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
I will allow two brief speeches, from Alex Neil and from Fergus Ewing.
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I will keep my comments brief, to allow Fergus Ewing to speak.I am happy to vote for the reappointment of Alice Brown as the ombudsman, but, like many other ...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
I endorse the comments that have been made by my colleagues, John Swinney and Alex Neil. In the short time that is available to me, I wish to make one furthe...
John Scott:
Con
I thank members for their generally supportive stance in this debate. I note the concerns of Mr Swinney, Murdo Fraser, Jeremy Purvis, Alex Neil and Fergus Ew...