Inquiry into the Armed Forces Bill - Defence Committee

The Ombudsman Association is of the opinion that several amendments need to be made to the Armed Forces Bill to create a UK Service Complaints Ombudsman that would meet the Association’s five fundamental criteria of independent, fairness, effectiveness, openness and transparency, and accountability. 

These include: 

• Strengthening the role of Parliament in the appointment of the Service Complaints Ombudsman; 

• Inserting a fixed term of office, for a minimum of five years, into the Bill; 

• Removing the requirement for a complaint to be made in writing; 

• Adding to the Bill that the Service Complaints Ombudsman’s findings are binding. 

Download an accessible PDF of our response below.