PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN (WALES) ACT

KEY BENEFITS

• Provides Wales with a unified Ombudsman service covering devolved fields of government
• Public will get a better service from a unified "one-stop-shop" Ombudsman's jurisdiction
• Unified administration and support will enhance efficiency, and contribute to improving public services across Wales
• Creation of a new Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, replacing three existing Welsh Ombudsmen's offices (Welsh Administration Ombudsman, Health Service Commissioner for Wales, and Commissioner for Local Administration in Wales), together with that of the Social Housing Ombudsman for Wales which will be established later this year. 
• Under the new Ombudsman, a unified jurisdiction to investigate complaints against Welsh devolved public service providers (the Assembly, Assembly Sponsored Public Bodies, health service bodies, local authorities and social landlords) ;
• Removal of inconsistencies between the legislation governing the existing ombudsmen's jurisdictions so that the new Ombudsman can investigate all complaints in a consistent manner, and rationalisation of the rules on investigations, removing unnecessary complexity;
• Powers for the Assembly to adjust the jurisdiction to respond to changes in the public sector in Wales such as the abolition of existing public bodies or the creation of new ones;
• Enhanced powers for the Ombudsman to facilitate resolution of disputes;
• The Ombudsman to be able to issue formal guidance on requirements of good administrative practice.

IMPLEMENTATION

The legislation will come fully into force on 1 April 2006.

CONTACT

For further information about this legislation, please contact:

Sarah.canning@wales.gsi.gov.uk
Margaret.adams@wales.gsi.gov.uk