I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.
Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman is independent in the performance of his statutory functions.
I have been advised by the Ombudsman that the number of complaints outstanding each month in 2018 were as follows:-
Year
|
Month
|
Number of complaints outstanding at the end of the Month
|
2018
|
January
|
3328*
|
|
February
|
3515
|
|
March
|
3740
|
|
April
|
3853
|
|
May
|
3943
|
|
June
|
3964
|
|
July
|
4155
|
|
August
|
4307
|
|
September
|
4454
|
|
October
|
4662
|
* This includes 44 complaints transferred from the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman on 1 Jan 2018.
I have also been advised by the Ombudsman that the number of complaints outstanding for the years for 2015 to 2017 were as follows:-
Year
|
Number of complaints outstanding at year end
|
2017
|
3134
|
2016
|
2198
|
2015
|
1954
|
To answer the Deputy's question in relation to the number of complaints and the length of time that complaints are open from date of receipt up to 1 month and to over 1 year, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman has provided the following information:-
Month since Received
|
Complaint Numbers @ 23 November 2018
|
<1
|
489
|
1-3
|
920
|
3-6
|
907
|
6-12
|
865
|
1 Year Plus
|
1541
|
Total
|
4722
|