Correspondence: David Laverick, Office of the Pensions Ombudsman, 11 Belgrave Road, London, SW1V 1RB, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 7834 9144; e-mail: DavidJL39@aol.com

¹is the Pensions Ombudsman. He graduated in law from King's College London, and was then articled in local government qualifying as a solicitor in 1970. David spent 20 years as the Director of the Local Government Ombudsman service for England, which he founded, and then six years as Chief Executive of a Special Health Authority determining appeals on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health, before taking up his current post in September 2001.

Received 10 May 2002.

Abstract

The recently appointed Ombudsman discusses the effect of a change in the holder of the post. He has recently determined that a collective agreement cannot overrule the provisions of a statutory scheme. Responsibility for decisions about ill-health retirements rest with trustees and not those advising them. Members should have an opportunity to comment on relevant information before key decisions are taken, and trustees should give reasons for their decisions. The Ombudsman is there to provide remedies beyond those available through litigation.