Plans to "radically reform" the ombudsman system in England by
creating a "one-stop shop" are being floated by the Cabinet
Office.
The move is part of a government review of existing services,
which also proposes removing the need to complain to an MP before a
case can be passed to the parliamentary ombudsman.
The Cabinet Office hopes plans to establish "a one-stop shop"
for complaints to the three local government ombudsmen in England
will be approved during a three-month consultation. Other measures
designed to enable public sector ombudsmen to work more flexibly
with each other and other organisations are contained in the review
proposals, which are now out to consultation.
The deadline for responses is the end of September.