The powers and functions of the Ombudsman are contained in five main pieces of legislation:
The Ombudsmen Act 1975;
The Official Information Act 1982;
The Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987;
The Crimes of Torture Act 1989; and
The Protected Disclosures Act 2000.
The agencies that come under the Ombudsman's jurisdiction under the Ombudsmen Act are listed in Schedule 1 of that Act.
The agencies that come under the Ombudsman's jurisdiction under the Official Information Act include:
Ministers of the Crown;
the departments and organisations listed in Part 1 and Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Ombudsmen Act (except for the Parliamentary Counsel Office, the Parliamentary Service and mortality review committees); and
the organisations listed in Schedule 1 of the Official Information Act.
The agencies that come under the Ombudsman's jurisdiction under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act include:
the local authorities listed in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of that Act; and
council-controlled organisations and council organisations (the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act applies to council-controlled organisations as if they are local authorities - see section 74 of the Local Government Act 2002).
If you are unsure whether an agency comes under the Ombudsman's jurisdiction, please contact us.