The Committee has issued a highly critical report which accuses the government of causing a constitutional crisis.

In her evidence to the Committee the Ombudsman said: "I did not say, “Write a blank cheque”, but to organise a remedy. … I was looking, maybe naïvely, for Government to put its brightest and best people on to thinking about how can we organise a remedy that will do whatever Government and Parliament thinks is appropriate to provide redress for these people who suffered these injustices. I said they should do that by whichever means is most appropriate including, if necessary, payment from public funds. I suppose I had in mind there that these schemes have got their own assets, they are not devoid of funds, so there is money there. I had in mind thinking about changing the law on purchasing annuities, which is not the best use of those funds. I did wonder whether the financial services industry might be prepared to come in and at least think about the rescue package and making a contribution. I thought there might be unclaimed assets and I thought about the role that might be played in enforcement action on wind-up and I thought about taxpayers’ money, but I did not say, “Write a blank cheque”. I did not expect the Government to get out its chequebook, but I also did not expect the Government to refuse to even think about what could be done."

The PASC said: "We trust that this Report will act as a warning to the Government. We will continue to monitor the Government’s responses to the Parliamentary Commissioner’s reports. If necessary we will seek a debate on the floor of the House, so that all Members can discuss these issues, and re-establish the Parliamentary Commissioner’s role. The Parliamentary Commissioner is Parliament’s Ombudsman: Government must respect her."

See also:

The Government's initial response and its Rebuttal
Ros Altmann's full statement on the PO's Report
Parliamentary Ombudsman's Report
BBC's report, 15 March