EQUITABLE LIFE MEMBERS

PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN PRESS STATEMENT

Last Updated: Thursday, July 10, 2008 05:48 PM

10 July 2008

For immediate use

Publication of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s report into the prudential regulation of Equitable Life

Ann Abraham, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), has written to the Chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee - Dr Tony Wright MP – informing him that she will publish her report on 17 July 2008. She will be laying her report before both Houses of Parliament, pursuant to section 10(4) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967.

Notes to Editors

1.             Ann Abraham holds the post of Parliamentary Ombudsman and also Health Service Ombudsman for England. She is appointed by the Crown and is completely independent of the government and the NHS.

2.             Her role is to provide a service to the public by undertaking independent investigations into complaints that government departments, a range of other public bodies in the UK, and the NHS in England, have not acted properly or fairly or have provided a poor service. 

3.             There is no charge for using the Ombudsman’s services.

4.             The terms of reference for the Ombudsman’s investigation can be found on the PHSO website - http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/improving_services/special_reports/pca/equitable_tor05/equitableSOC04.html 

5.             Embargoed Press copies: the Report will be available from 2.30pm on Wednesday 16 July 2008. To obtain a copy contact the Communications team, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP,

email simon.barber@ombudsman.org.uk

telephone: 020 7217 4996 or 020 7217 4077