Dear Kath Welton,
 
Thank you for your email and letter of 7th May.  I am still not satisfied with your answer and must (probably) await the "Internal Review" process.
 
However...
 
As I pointed out in my email of 27th April The Legal Services Ombudsman (the head of YOUR office) is one and the SAME person as the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner.  Your Office MUST be able to answer the questions raised.  I also pointed out the interdependence of the OLSO and the OLSCC as STATED in Ms. Manzor's report here http://www.olscc.gov.uk/docs/srawebupdatefeb09.pdf.  Clearly the OLSO NEEDS to know the answers to these questions.
 
I repeat my request of 27th April below which you have (so far) not addressed.
 
Please either forward my FOI request to Ms. Manzoor or explain why the OLSO believes that continually "passing the buck" is the best policy for a Government Office established under the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990? 
 
Why not simply forward this email and ask Ms. Manzoor to answer?
I know she must be busy, but a response from Ms. Manzoor herself (Both the LSO and the LSCC) would send a very clear message that the OLSO and the OLSCC are Offices we can ALL be proud of... "two birds with one stone" and a very sensible use of public funds, perhaps?
 
I look forward to hearing from you.
 
Yours sincerely
Spenser Poultney
----- Original Message -----
From: Legal Services Ombudsman
To: spenser@lcs-test.co.uk
Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 9:59 AM
Subject: 43877


07 May 2009



Dear Mr Poultney

Thank you for your e-mail dated 27 April 2009. I am sorry that you were not satisfied with my response to your e-mail of 20 April 2009. However, there is no further information that I can provide you with that is held by this Office.

As I have explained previously the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman (OLSO) and the Office of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (OLSCC) are two separate offices with different functions. The Ombudsman and the Commissioner operate under two separate Acts of Parliament, namely the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 and the Access to Justice Act 1999.

It appears that your reference to “significant case failings” by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) relates to the OLSCC’s approach to auditing; which we are unable to comment on from this Office. This is a matter for the OLSCC and any comments must come from that Office. I would suggest that you approach the OLSCC for the information you require. Their address is 19th floor, West Riding House, 67 Albion Street, Leeds LS1 5AA.

I have already tried to be as helpful as possible by providing you with links to the information which is published by the Ombudsman on her findings from the investigation of complaints about the legal professional bodies.

I should also add that the Ombudsman investigates specific complaints about the legal professional bodies. It is not possible to consider hypothetical questions outside the context of a specific case as the Ombudsman considers every case on its individual merits.

In the circumstances I am sorry that I am unable to be of further assistance to you.


Yours sincerely




Kath Welton
Corporate Services Manager

Hard copy also sent 1st class post

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