Written questions

Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman: Appeals

Lords · Question HL14217 · Tabled 3 Feb 2026 · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government · Official record

Answered 16 Feb 2026

Question

Asked by Lord Blunkett

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that an appeal against a Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman decision not to investigate a case is not reviewed by the same person who made the original decision.

Answer

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, 16 Feb 2026

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman operates independently of central Government. Decisions about how complaints are investigated and reviewed fall solely within the Ombudsman’s statutory powers. This independence rightly keeps ministers at arm...