Steve Darling MP – 4 June 2025

5th June 2025

Steve Darling, Pensions Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats questioned Pensions Minister Torsten Bell and the Work and Pensions Select committee on Wednesday 4th June. He raises the question of the Government disregarding the Ombudsman’s report and it is undermining the role of the Ombudsman.

The Minister denies this is the case, although the Deputy Ombudsman previously said to the Work and Pensions Select Committee that “ The headline cases make the news, but in 99.9% of our investigations there is full compliance with our recommendations, whether it is an apology, policy change, financial remedy or all of it. This is extremely unusual, but headline cases are headline cases for a reason. They set the tone. We are a toothless tiger only if Parliament steps away from supporting us when there is not compliance. Parliament has not yet had a chance to speak on this. The Government are choosing to step away from supporting the Ombudsman.