Ombudsman draft budget confusing and lacking detail – says Finance Committee report.

21 January 2011

A cross-party report from the National Assembly for Wales shows concern and disappointment at the presentation of the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales’s budget.

The Finance Committee said figures presented by the Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, were both confusing and lacked detail.

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales is responsible for investigating complaints of poor services by public sector organisations from members of the public.

Committee members also questioned whether the draft budget for 2011-12 took into account the need for possible savings following the UK’s Comprehensive Spending Review. A revised Estimate presented at a second meeting with Mr Tyndall showed a three per cent reduction in funding, which equated to a 4.8 per cent reduction in real terms using GDP deflators at the time.

Chair of the Finance Committee, Angela Burns AM, said: “It is concerning that a body charged with ensuring fairness and good quality services from the public sector should demonstrate a lack of clarity and detail in its own draft budget.

“We feel it is essential the Ombudsman’s estimates should be transparent and easy to understand not just by us, but most importantly by the public.

“The Committee recognises that the Public Services Ombudsman is responsible for an important statutory service and faces considerable challenges.

“Nonetheless, we feel the Ombudsman’s budget deserves greater scrutiny in future and we are recommending this is contained within the duties of an appropriate committee during the fourth Assembly.