Summary: We will not investigate Miss X’s complaint that the Council wrongly failed to ensure she had an abortion almost 20 years ago when she was in foster care. The complaint is historic and there is no good reason to consider it now.

The complaint

1. Miss X said the Council failed to ensure she had an abortion when she was in foster care almost 20 years ago.

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The Ombudsman’s role and powers

2. The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
3. We cannot investigate late complaints unless we decide there are good reasons. Late complaints are when someone takes more than 12 months to complain to us about something a council has done. (Local Government Act 1974, sections 26B and 34D, as amended)

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How I considered this complaint

4. I read Miss X’s complaint. I gave her an opportunity to comment on a draft decision.

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What I found

5. Miss X was an older teenager in foster care and became pregnant. She said the Council failed to ensure she had an abortion despite agreeing to do so. Although I would not have expected her to complain immediately, I have seen no good reason why it has taken Miss X almost 20 years to approach us.

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Final decision

6. We will not investigate this complaint. The complaint is historic and there is no good reason to investigate it now.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman