ICE is not an Ombudsman

The request was partially successful.

Dear DWP Strategy Freedom of Information,
Subject to your response of VTR219 you made the following statement,

"I can confirm that the ICE is not an Ombudsman. The ICE is an independent office holder
appointed by the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions to provide an
impartial complaint handling service to customers who are dissatisfied with the Department’s
responses to their complaints, her role is non-statutory and ICE investigations carry no weight
in law. The ICE office does not have policy documents in relation to maladministration and UK
law".

Based on the above could you explain the following;

a) Could you confirm if the ICE is in the Ombudsman's Association?

b) If the ICE is in the Ombudsman's association could you please explain the conflict in relation to your explanation that the ICE is not an Ombudsman?

c) Is the ICE unit an Ombudsman or part of the Ombudsman's association?

d) Is there any person within the entirety of the ICE unit/DWP registered as an Ombudsman and/or accountable within the remit of an Ombudsman associated with independent complaints for citizens or registered with the Ombudsman's association?

e) Why and how is the ICE unit/ the ICE in the Ombudsman's association?

f) The Oxford dictionary states the following in relation to the word independent,
"Free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority". The ICE and the ICE unit is funded by the DWP whilst it is in the ombudsman's association but yet subject to FOI request VTR219 the ICE is not an Ombudsman! For citizens clarity, could you please explain all of this conflict?

g) The ICE web site refers to corporate information. The Oxford dictionary refers to corporate as the following definition;

Law (Of a large company or group) authorized to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law:

It is clear that the ICE unit as a corporate part of the DWP as defined by the Oxford dictionary and IS recognised in law. Why do you state in the above paragraph that ICE investigations carry no weight in law and the ICE office does not have policy documents in relation to maladministration and UK law when it is clear as a corporate that your statement is a clear breach of the Oxford dictionary's definition of the ICE/the ICE unit. For Freedom of Information request purposes and citizens clarity could you please explain this conflict/reasoning behind your previous statements?

Based on the previous paragraph, I ask again, could I have all policy documents in relation to the ICE unit as a corporate part of the DWP in relation to maladministration and UK law.

Thank you

Yours sincerely,

Mr N Parker

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

Dear Mr N Parker,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request.

You can expect a reply by 27/2/15 unless I need to come back to you to clarify your request or the balance of the public interest test needs to be considered.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

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Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team,
Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
www.ico.org.uk/Global/contact_us or telephone 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745

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DWP Strategy Freedom of Information, Department for Work and Pensions

1 Attachment

Dear Mr N Parker,

Thank you for your Freedom of Information request. Please find enclosed our reply.

If you have any queries about this letter please contact me quoting the reference number above.

Yours sincerely,

DWP Central FoI Team

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your right to complain under the Freedom of Information Act

If you are not happy with this response you may request an internal review by e-mailing [DWP request email] or by writing to DWP, Central FoI Team,
Caxton House, Tothill Street, SW1H 9NA. Any review request should be submitted within two months of the date of this letter. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office for a decision. Generally the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted our own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF
www.ico.org.uk/Global/contact_us or telephone 0303 123 1113 or 01625 545745

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