Member

The parliamentary ombudsman said that the case was outside its remit, on the basis that it concerned the transfer of public sector benefits. However, it apparently drafted a Private Member’s Bill to enable it to investigate, presented initially by Mr Vaizey—now the noble Lord, Lord Vaizey—and later by Mr Johnston. On both occasions, it was blocked by the Government. The PHSO considered a complaint about a so-called fact sheet—I use the word wisely—issued by DWP in 2013 in response to complaints about the AEAT scheme. It found that the fact sheet had caused confusion; the DWP had to apologise and it was later withdrawn.