Ombudsman strongly critical of judges

Pensions Ombudsman Rebuffed by Judges

Dr Farrand had instructed that surplus money taken out of the pensions funds of the former National Bus Company and the National Grid should be paid back. But the National Grid took the case to the High Court, and the Government is still considering what to do in the case of the bus company.

The Ombudsman ruled in September that the Government should not have received the surplus in the pension fund when the National Bus Company was privatised. But there's still no promise to pay the money pack. Earlier this year, the High Court overturned a ruling which Dr Farrand had made in favour of the National Grid pensioners. The case is due to go to appeal in October.

Dr Farrant said, "The legislative purpose of a Pensions Ombudsman need not be welcomed enthusiastically in the courts, but ought not to be undermined, whether or not with malice aforethought."

"The attitude of certain members of the judiciary seems somewhat inimical to the Ombudsman idea." Dr Farrand denied that the cases showed his office was powerless to help pensioners.