The ombudsman, tribunals and administrative justice section: a 2020 vision for the ombudsman sector

Abstract

This article analyses the growing role for ombudsman schemes in the UK administrative justice system following the Government reforms post 2010. It argues that the ombudsman institution is perhaps the one example of an administrative justice body that looks set to emerge stronger over the period. But the ombudsman sector needs to guard against complacency, as the demands, expectations and publicity placed upon it are all likely to increase.

Keywords:

• Ombudsman
• administrative justice
• complainants
• accountability
• own-initiative investigation

Notes

1. The Scottish Tribunals and Administrative Justice Advisory Committee.

2. The Committee for Administrative Justice and Tribunals Wales.

3. See the website of the Ombudsman Association for a full list of members.

4. As amended by the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Consumer Disputes (Amendment) Regulations 2015.

5. One of the major challenges in designing this new ombudsman scheme is how to deal with the existing residuary UK-wide role performed by the Parliamentary Ombudsman.