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1042271

registered interest
date	16/01/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter dated of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768, what assessment he has made of the reasons why only a maximum of nine out of the full compliment of 11 full-time investigator posts have ever been filled in the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman; and whether the problems identified in the United Kingdom Security Vetting agency by the National Audit Office in its report entitled Investigation into national security vetting, published in September 2018, have contributed to the posts being unfilled; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	209305
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208854 208857 208859 208860 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041760

registered interest
date	15/01/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768, what steps he is taking to ensure the adequacy of staffing levels in the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	208853
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208854 208857 208859 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041762

registered interest
date	15/01/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Sick Leave
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question, how many staff in the Service Complaints Ombudsman's office have taken sick leave as a result of stress related illnesses; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	208854
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208857 208859 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041765

registered interest
date	15/01/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Complaints
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768, what the average length of investigations held by each full-time investigator was; and how many complaints were received relating to the length of time investigations were taking in the office of the Service Complaint Ombudsman in each quarter from March 2017 to 30 September 2018; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	208857
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208854 208859 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041767

registered interest
date	15/01/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768 and with reference to the 122 cases currently unallocated within Service Complaints Ombudsman's office, what plans he has to increase the resources available to that office; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	208859
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208854 208857 208860 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

1041769

registered interest
date	15/01/2019
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Service Complaints Ombudsman: Recruitment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his letter of 15 January 2019 in relation to Question 196768, what (a) the average number of applications made for vacant full-time investigator posts was and (b) the average length of time from a post being advertised and an appointment made was in the office of the Service Complaints Ombudsman from 31 March 2017 to 30 September 2018; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	208860
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2019 answer text <p>The Service Complaints Ombudsman is provided with an annual budget from defence funds which, under the financial delegation given to her, is used to meet all the costs associated with her independent function.</p><p>The Ombudsman's office is staffed by Civil Servants and all job advertisements are posted on the Civil Service Jobs website at the earliest opportunity. On occasions, it has not been possible to attract sufficiently qualified applicants from within the Civil Service with the necessary skills for investigation officer posts. This has led to jobs being advertised externally, a process which takes significantly longer as it requires necessary security vetting.</p><p>All posts are subject to the usual churn of staff, some of whom will seek opportunities elsewhere following a two or three-year term. It is, therefore, not surprising that with the establishment of the SCO office in 2015, a number of staff left the Ombudsman's office in the latter part of 2017. Around that time, an internal restructuring was also undertaken which has taken time to bed in.</p><p>The number of filled investigation officer posts has now increased to ten, with recruitment ongoing for the remaining post plus another that is due to become vacant in April 2019. I am also aware that the Ombudsman is reviewing her staffing requirements. A review of the office's case handling processes, without detriment to quality, will, I understand, form the basis for this.</p><p>To date, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has responded positively to any requests for additional staff from the Ombudsman, including throughout the period when recruitment in the MOD was subject to severe restrictions, and we will of course be happy to fully consider any further requests.</p><p>It will take time to collate the detailed information requested on the average length of investigations, recruitment to full-time investigator posts and sick leave. I will write to the hon. Member in due course.</p> answering member constituency Bournemouth East answering member printed Mr Tobias Ellwood grouped question UIN 208852 208853 208854 208857 208859 209305 question first answered 21/01/2019 16:47:00 answering member 1487 label Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon