Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002

United Kingdom legislation

Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002

Scottish Parliament

Long title| An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision (including provision for the purposes of section 91 of the Scotland Act 1998) for the appointment and functions of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman; and for connected purposes.
Citation| 2002 asp 11
Introduced by| Angus MacKay
Territorial extent | Scotland
Dates
Royal assent| 23 April 2002
Commencement| 23 October 2002

Status: Current legislation

History of passage through Parliament
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament which establishes an organisation for handling complaints about public services in Scotland. The Act makes provision for an officer, known as the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, to be appointed and outlines functions to be exercised.

## Duties established

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This legislation was intended to create a modern complaints service.[1] The Act established the ombudsman as a 'one-stop-shop', assuming statutory duties that had previously been the remit of three previous offices – the Scottish Parliamentary Ombudsman, the Health Service Ombudsman, the Local Government Ombudsman for Scotland. The Act also provides for the Ombusdman taking over non-statutory duties from the Housing Association Ombudsman for Scotland.

## Consultation

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In October 2000 the Scottish Executive published a consultation paper “Modernising the Complaints System” to stimulate debate on proposals to simplify complaints procedures and streamline the existing ombudsman system.[2][3] In July 2001 a second consultation paper was published- “A Modern Complaints System”, which set out more detailed proposals relating to the work of public sector ombudsmen in Scotland, taking into account responses to the initial consultation.[4]

## Passage of the Act

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The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 21 March 2002 and it received Royal Assent on 23 April 2002.[5]

## References

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1. ^ "About us: Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act". Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
2. ^ "Complaints system shake-up". BBC News. 3 October 2000. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
3. ^ "Scottish Executive to modernise public sector complaints system". Local Government Chronicle. 3 October 2000. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
4. ^ "Scottish Public Sector Ombudsman Bill. Report of consultation on the proposals" (PDF). Scottish Government. November 2001. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
5. ^ "Progress of legislation - session 1" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. p. 28. Retrieved 19 October 2014.

## External links

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* latest available version of the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002