Summary: We cannot investigate Mrs X’s complaint that she was issued a passport in the incorrect name when she was a child because it lies outside our jurisdiction. This is because the matter complained about is not an administrative function of the Council.

The complaint

1. Mrs X complains that when she was in foster care, over 25 years ago, she was issued a passport in the wrong name. Mrs X only recently became aware that the name on her passport does not match the name on her birth certificate.

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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 complaints about actions which are not the administrative function of a council. (Local Government Act 1974, section 26(1) as amended).

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How I considered this complaint

4. I considered information provided by the complainant.
5. I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.

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My assessment

6. Mrs X complained to the Council about the matter set out in paragraph one and about the impact of this.
7. The Council told Mrs X it did not issue the passport and it would not hold any information about the application. It advised Mrs X to contact the Passport Office.
8. We cannot investigate this complaint because it lies outside our jurisdiction. The issuing of a passport is not an administrative function of the Council. Passports are issued by the Passport Office which is part of the Home Office. Mrs X says she has already contacted the Passport Office on this matter. That is the appropriate body to consider her complaint as it issued the passport.

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Final decision

9. We will not investigate Mrs X’s complaint. It lies outside our jurisdiction because the matter complained about is not an administrative function of the Council.

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Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman