The Work and Pensions Committee has endorsed the appointment of Dominic Harris as the new Pensions Ombudsman.
The parliamentary committee has concluded Harris has the personal independence and professional competence for the role.
While scrutinising the appointment, the committee asked Harris a range of questions including about his experience as a pensions lawyer, how he would manage any potential conflicts of interest and the challenges he anticipates for the office of Pensions Ombudsman.
He was also asked about his assessment of the work of the organisation in recent years and areas he thought could be improved, such as tackling the backlog of cases and improving customer satisfaction.
Stephen Timms MP, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, says: “Harris impressed the committee with his grasp of detail and understanding of the challenges facing the Pensions Ombudsman.
“It is vital that people can trust that any complaints and disputes about their pension schemes are handled in a fair and impartial way, and we are confident that Harris has the right skills and independence to lead the organisation in this important task. We wish him every success in his new position and look forward to working with him.”
The Pensions Ombudsman investigates and determines complaints and disputes about the way that occupational and personal pension schemes are run. The current Pensions Ombudsman Anthony Arter is due to stand down at the end of the month.
