Pensions Ombudsman
Encyclopedia
The Pensions Ombudsman is the official ombudsman
institution responsible for investigating complaints regarding pension
s in the United Kingdom
. The Pensions Ombudsman is a non-departmental public body
, and the holder is appointed by the Government, but acts independently after appointment. His brief is to resolve disputes of fact or law and to investigate claims of maladministration
. Unusually for UK Ombudsmen, the Pensions Ombudsman's determinations are enforceable as though they were orders made by a Court.
Although the first UK Ombudsman, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
, was established in 1967, the first time the title Ombudsman was used by Parliament was to establish the office of Pensions Ombudsman in 1991.
The first Pensions Ombudsman was Michael Platt, a civil servant. He was succeeded by Dr. Julian Farrand, formerly the Insurance Ombudsman. Prior to his work as an Ombudsman, Farrand had been a Law Commissioner and a University Professor. He is married to Baroness Hale, also previously a Law Commissioner and the first woman to be a member of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords, the UK's highest court.
Farrand was succeeded by David Laverick, previously a Director of the Local Government Ombudsman
service and chief executive of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority. He also holds a Judicial Appointment as President of the Adjudication Panel for England
, a body which deals with allegations about the conduct of members of local authorities
.
The role of Deputy Pensions Ombudsman was created in December 2004. The current holder of the office is Charlie Gordon.
The present Pensions Ombudsman is Tony King who took up office in September 2007.
Since April 2005, the holder of the office of Pensions Ombudsman has also acted as the Ombudsman for the Pension Protection Fund
, and in that capacity also deals with appeals against decisions made by the Financial Assistance Scheme, established by the Government to provide assistance to those whose pensions have been lost due to an employer going into liquidation
.
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
institution responsible for investigating complaints regarding pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
s in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Pensions Ombudsman is a non-departmental public body
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
, and the holder is appointed by the Government, but acts independently after appointment. His brief is to resolve disputes of fact or law and to investigate claims of maladministration
Maladministration
Maladministration is a political term which describes the actions of a government body which can be seen as causing an injustice.The law in the United Kingdom says Ombudsman must investigate ‘maladministration’...
. Unusually for UK Ombudsmen, the Pensions Ombudsman's determinations are enforceable as though they were orders made by a Court.
Although the first UK Ombudsman, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman comprises the offices of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Health Service Commissioner for England...
, was established in 1967, the first time the title Ombudsman was used by Parliament was to establish the office of Pensions Ombudsman in 1991.
The first Pensions Ombudsman was Michael Platt, a civil servant. He was succeeded by Dr. Julian Farrand, formerly the Insurance Ombudsman. Prior to his work as an Ombudsman, Farrand had been a Law Commissioner and a University Professor. He is married to Baroness Hale, also previously a Law Commissioner and the first woman to be a member of the Judicial Committee of the House of Lords, the UK's highest court.
Farrand was succeeded by David Laverick, previously a Director of the Local Government Ombudsman
Local Government Ombudsman
A Local Government Ombudsman is an official employed by the Commission for Local Administration in England , a body of commissioners established under the Local Government Act 1974 to investigate complaints about councils and certain other bodies in England. Each of three Local Government Ombudsmen...
service and chief executive of the Family Health Services Appeal Authority. He also holds a Judicial Appointment as President of the Adjudication Panel for England
Adjudication Panel for England
The Adjudication Panel for England was an independent judicial tribunal set up under the Local Government Act 2000. It was a Non-departmental public body which ruled on complaints referred to it by the Standards Board for England regarding alleged breaches of English local authorities' codes of...
, a body which deals with allegations about the conduct of members of local authorities
Local government in the United Kingdom
The pattern of local government in England is complex, with the distribution of functions varying according to the local arrangements. Legislation concerning local government in England is decided by the Parliament and Government of the United Kingdom, because England does not have a devolved...
.
The role of Deputy Pensions Ombudsman was created in December 2004. The current holder of the office is Charlie Gordon.
The present Pensions Ombudsman is Tony King who took up office in September 2007.
Since April 2005, the holder of the office of Pensions Ombudsman has also acted as the Ombudsman for the Pension Protection Fund
Pension Protection Fund
The Board of the Pension Protection Fund is a Statutory Fund in the United Kingdom. It was created under the Pensions Act 2004. The Board of the PPF is a Statutory Corporation responsible for managing the Fund and for making payments to members....
, and in that capacity also deals with appeals against decisions made by the Financial Assistance Scheme, established by the Government to provide assistance to those whose pensions have been lost due to an employer going into liquidation
Liquidation
In law, liquidation is the process by which a company is brought to an end, and the assets and property of the company redistributed. Liquidation is also sometimes referred to as winding-up or dissolution, although dissolution technically refers to the last stage of liquidation...
.