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Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002

2002 asp 11 · Enacted 23 April 2002 · Extends to Scotland

Not fully up to date. 5 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 30 September 2026.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
sch. 2 para. 4(c)repealedNational Health Service Reform (Scotland) Act 2004 sch. 2
sch. 4 para. 14words substitutedSmoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005 sch. 2 para. 6
sch. 2 Pt. 2words insertedClimate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sch. 2 para. 4
sch. 2 para. 54ZAinsertedVictims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 sch. 2 para. 1
Sch. 5 tablewords insertedHousing (Scotland) Act 2025 s. 74(2)

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.

The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on 21st March 2002 and received Royal Assent on 23rd April 2002C1

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act applied by 2005 asp. 3 s. 11A(1)-(4) (as inserted (15.8.2011) by Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 8), ss. 131, 134(7)(8); S.S.I. 2011/278, art. 2(c))

Contents

  1. The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
  2. 1The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
  3. Investigations by the Ombudsman
  4. 2Power of investigation
  5. 3Persons liable to investigation
  6. 4Persons liable to investigation: supplementary
  7. 5Matters which may be investigated
  8. 6Application of section 5 to certain tribunals
  9. 6AMatters which may be investigated: healthcare whistleblowing
  10. 6BFurther provision in relation to healthcare whistleblowing
  11. 7Matters which may be investigated: restrictions
  12. 8Excluded matters
  13. 9Complaints: who may complain
  14. 10Complaints: time limits and procedure
  15. 11Decisions not to investigate or to discontinue investigations
  16. 12Investigation procedure
  17. 13Evidence
  18. 14Obstruction and contempt
  19. 15Reports on investigations
  20. 16Special reports
  21. Listed authorities: complaints handling procedures
  22. 16AStatement of principles
  23. 16BModel complaints handling procedures
  24. 16BAModel complaints handling procedure: healthcare whistleblowing
  25. 16CModel complaints handling procedures: specification of listed authorities
  26. 16DDeclarations of non-compliance
  27. 16ESubmission of description of complaints handling procedure: general
  28. 16FComplaints handling procedures: application of other enactments
  29. Complaints handling procedures: promotion of best practice etc.
  30. 16GComplaints handling procedures: promotion of best practice etc.
  31. Other functions of the Ombudsman
  32. 16HReviews under the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Act 2015
  33. Miscellaneous and general
  34. 17Annual reports etc.
  35. 17AStrategic plans
  36. 18Protection from actions for defamation
  37. 19Confidentiality of information
  38. 20Disclosure of information by the Ombudsman
  39. 21Consultation and co-operation with other Commissioners and Ombudsmen
  40. 22Information about right to make complaint
  41. Supplementary
  42. 23Interpretation
  43. 24Orders in Council: general
  44. 25Modification of enactments
  45. 26Consequential, transitional, transitory and saving provision
  46. 27Commencement, revocation and short title
  47. Schedule 1: The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
  48. 1Disqualification
  49. 2Status
  50. 3Validity of actings
  51. 4Term of office and tenure
  52. 5Vacancy in office of Ombudsman
  53. 6Vacancy in office of deputy Ombudsman
  54. 7Remuneration
  55. 8Pensions etc.
  56. 9Staff
  57. 10Advisers and other services
  58. 11Delegation
  59. 12General powers
  60. 12ALocation of office
  61. 12BSharing of premises, staff, services and other resources
  62. 12CCharges for services
  63. 12DBudget
  64. 13Financial provision
  65. 14Accountable officer
  66. 15Accounts and audit
  67. Schedule 2: Listed authorities
  68. Part 1: Entries not amendable by Order in Council
  69. 1Scottish Parliament and Scottish Administration
  70. 2Paragraph 2
  71. 3Paragraph 3
  72. 4Health service
  73. 5Paragraph 5
  74. 6Paragraph 6
  75. 7Local government etc.
  76. 8Paragraph 8
  77. 9Paragraph 9
  78. 10Paragraph 10
  79. 11Paragraph 11
  80. 11AParagraph 11A
  81. 12Paragraph 12
  82. 13Paragraph 13
  83. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  84. 15Paragraph 15
  85. 16Paragraph 16
  86. 16AParagraph 16A
  87. 17Housing
  88. 17APrisons
  89. 17BCrown Estate
  90. Part 2: Entries amendable by Order in Council
  91. 18Scottish public authorities
  92. 19Paragraph 19
  93. 20Paragraph 20
  94. 20AParagraph 20A
  95. 20AAParagraph 20AA
  96. 20BParagraph 20B
  97. 21Paragraph 21 Repealed
  98. 21ZZAParagraph 21ZZA
  99. 21ZAParagraph 21ZA
  100. 21AParagraph 21A
  101. 21BParagraph 21B Repealed
  102. 21ZZCParagraph 21ZZC
  103. 21ZZDParagraph 21ZZD
  104. 21ZCParagraph 21ZC
  105. 21CParagraph 21C
  106. 22Paragraph 22
  107. 22AParagraph 22A
  108. 23Paragraph 23 Repealed
  109. 24Paragraph 24 Repealed
  110. 25Paragraph 25
  111. 25ZAParagraph 25ZA
  112. 25ZBParagraph 25ZB
  113. 25ZCParagraph 25ZC
  114. 25AParagraph 25A
  115. 26Paragraph 26
  116. 27Paragraph 27
  117. 28Paragraph 28 Repealed
  118. 28AParagraph 28A
  119. 29Paragraph 29
  120. 30Paragraph 30
  121. 31Paragraph 31
  122. 32Paragraph 32
  123. 32ZAParagraph 32ZA
  124. 32AParagraph 32A
  125. 32AAParagraph 32AA
  126. 32AAZAParagraph 32AAZA
  127. 32AAAParagraph 32AAA
  128. 32ABParagraph 32AB
  129. 32BParagraph 32B Repealed
  130. 32CParagraph 32C Repealed
  131. 33Paragraph 33
  132. 34Paragraph 34 Repealed
  133. 35Paragraph 35
  134. 36Paragraph 36 Repealed
  135. 36AParagraph 36A
  136. 37Paragraph 37
  137. 37BParagraph 37B
  138. 38Paragraph 38 Repealed
  139. 39Paragraph 39
  140. 40Paragraph 40
  141. 40AParagraph 40A
  142. 41Paragraph 41 Repealed
  143. 42Paragraph 42
  144. 43Paragraph 43 Repealed
  145. 44Paragraph 44 Repealed
  146. 45Paragraph 45
  147. 45AParagraph 45A
  148. 46Paragraph 46
  149. 47Paragraph 47 Repealed
  150. 48Paragraph 48
  151. 48AParagraph 48A
  152. 49Paragraph 49 Repealed
  153. 50Paragraph 50 Repealed
  154. 50AParagraph 50A
  155. 51Paragraph 51
  156. 52Paragraph 52
  157. 52AParagraph 52A
  158. 52BParagraph 52B
  159. 53Paragraph 53
  160. 54Paragraph 54
  161. 54AParagraph 54A
  162. 55Paragraph 55
  163. 56Paragraph 56
  164. 57Cross-border public authorities
  165. 58Paragraph 58 Repealed
  166. 59Paragraph 59
  167. 60Paragraph 60
  168. 61Paragraph 61
  169. 62Paragraph 62 Repealed
  170. 63Paragraph 63
  171. 64Paragraph 64
  172. 65Paragraph 65 Repealed
  173. 66Paragraph 66 Repealed
  174. 67Paragraph 67
  175. 68Paragraph 68
  176. 69Paragraph 69
  177. 70Paragraph 70 Repealed
  178. 71Paragraph 71
  179. 72Paragraph 72 Repealed
  180. 73Paragraph 73 Repealed
  181. 74Paragraph 74
  182. 75Paragraph 75
  183. 76Paragraph 76
  184. 77Paragraph 77 Repealed
  185. 78Paragraph 78 Repealed
  186. 79Paragraph 79 Repealed
  187. 80Paragraph 80 Repealed
  188. 81Paragraph 81 Repealed
  189. 82Paragraph 82 Repealed
  190. 83Paragraph 83
  191. 84Paragraph 84
  192. 85Paragraph 85
  193. 86Paragraph 86 Repealed
  194. 87Paragraph 87
  195. 88Paragraph 88
  196. 89Paragraph 89
  197. 90Other bodies Repealed
  198. 91Other bodies
  199. 91AOther bodies
  200. 91BOther bodies
  201. 91BAOther bodies
  202. 91COther bodies
  203. Part 3: Other entries amendable by Order in Council
  204. 92Further and Higher Education
  205. 93Paragraph 93
  206. Schedule 3: Specified tribunals for the purposes of sections 6 and 7
  207. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  208. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  209. 3Paragraph 3
  210. 4Paragraph 4
  211. 4AParagraph 4A
  212. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  213. 6Paragraph 6
  214. 7Paragraph 7
  215. Schedule 4: Matters which the Ombudsman must not investigate
  216. 1Paragraph 1
  217. 2Paragraph 2
  218. 3Paragraph 3
  219. 4Paragraph 4
  220. 5Paragraph 5
  221. 6Paragraph 6
  222. 7Paragraph 7
  223. 8Paragraph 8
  224. 9Paragraph 9
  225. 10Paragraph 10
  226. 10AParagraph 10A
  227. 11Paragraph 11
  228. 12Paragraph 12
  229. 13Paragraph 13
  230. 14Paragraph 14
  231. 15Paragraph 15
  232. 16Paragraph 16 Repealed
  233. Schedule 5Disclosure of information by the Ombudsman
  234. Schedule 6: Modification of enactments
  235. 1Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 (c.30)
  236. 2Local Government (Scotland) Act 1978 (c.4)
  237. 3Local Government Act 1978 (c.39)
  238. 4Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (c.65)
  239. 5Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1981 (c.23)
  240. 6Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 (c.36) Repealed
  241. 7Hospital Complaints Procedure Act 1985 (c.42)
  242. 8Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1985 (c.73)
  243. 9Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 (c.47)
  244. 10Local Government Act 1988 (c.9)
  245. 11Housing (Scotland) Act 1988 (c.43)
  246. 12Official Secrets Act 1989 (c.6)
  247. 13Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (c.42)
  248. 14Health Service Commissioners Act 1993 (c.46)
  249. 15Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c.39)
  250. 16Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (c.36)
  251. 17Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c.8)
  252. 18Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 (c.9)
  253. 19Planning (Hazardous Substances) (Scotland) Act 1997 (c.10)
  254. 20Scottish Legal Services Ombudsman and Commissioner for Local Administration in Scotland Act 1997 (c.35)
  255. 21Ethical Standards in Public Life etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 7)
  256. 22National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 10)
  257. 23Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c.36)
  258. 24Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001 (asp 8)
  259. Schedule 7: Transfer of staff, property and liabilities and undetermined complaints
  260. 1Interpretation
  261. 2Transfer of staff of existing Commissioners and Scottish Homes
  262. 3Transfer of property etc. of existing Commissioners and Scottish Homes
  263. 4Transfer of undetermined statutory complaints
  264. 5Transfer of undetermined housing complaints