The House of Lords Select Committee
on Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform
7. The Committee issued its report on the proposal
for the Order on 5 February 2007. The Committee considered that
the proposal met the requirements of the Regulatory Reform Act
2001 and was appropriate to be made under it. The Committee also
noted that it would be desirable for there to be a clear policy
regarding the retention of information by the Ombudsman in cases
where a joint investigation of a complaint had been undertaken.
It further considered that, although it might in certain instances
be desirable for some kinds of complaints to be resolved by the
Ombudsman via mediation, it would be appropriate for statistics
to be kept of the themes and subjects of complaints which were
withdrawn following mediation so that evidence would be maintained
that mediation was not an unsatisfactory alternative in situations
where full investigation might be felt to be more appropriate.
8. In its explanatory memorandum, the Cabinet Office
records that the Ombudsmen have confirmed that they have in place
appropriate policies with respect to the retention of data following
the completion of investigations and that it is their intention
to implement new procedures with respect to the compilation of
statistics if and when the proposed power to appoint and pay a
mediator to act in relation to complaints is granted.
9. The Cabinet Office states that no other representations
were received on the proposal.[3]
3 
