A new report sets out the Treasury Select Committee's assessment
of the handling of the departure of previous Chief Executive
Officer, Abby Thomas, from the Financial Ombudsman Service
(FOS).
In the report, published today, MPs conclude that Ms Thomas was
dismissed from her role at the FOS due to a ‘collapse in
confidence' following fundamental disagreements with the Board on
strategy, management and operations.
Having previously refused to answer questions on the departure of
the CEO during an oral evidence
session, the FOS Chair, , told the Committee that
she cannot be required to answer the Committee's questions due to
her Membership of the House of Lords.
MPs describe this assertion as ‘unnecessary and disrespectful',
concluding that any Peer who accepts a leadership role in a
public body must also accept that such roles come with House of
Commons scrutiny.
Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, Dame , said:
“I'm afraid that the handling of this situation by the senior
leadership of the Financial Ombudsman Service has been deeply
disappointing.
“The attempt to frustrate a House of Commons Committee from
scrutinising the actions of a publicly accountable organisation
ultimately proved unsuccessful. I hope this sends a clear message
to any organisation considering similar action in future that
Members of the House of Commons will have answers to the
questions they ask on behalf of the British public, whether
senior officials attempt to block them or not.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
· The Committee's conclusions
are based on documents supplied by the FOS. These have not been
published due to the need to balance transparency against
fairness to individuals
· Rt Hon. MP appointed as Chair of the FOS when
he served as a Treasury Minister in the previous Government. He
therefore recused himself from consideration of this matter and
Report
