I. General aspects of the institution, itsactivities and its relations with public administration = 9
1. Office and staff = 9
2. General aspects of the institution’s work and the processing of complaints = 9
2.1 The year 2002 = 9
2.2 The Parliamentary Ombudsman is appointed by the Norwegian Storting = 9
2.3 Investigation of complaints filed with the Ombudsman = 10
2.4 Reorganisation of the Ombudsman’s office = 11
2.5 Empowerment to the Ombudsman’s staff to conclude cases = 11
2.6 Access to documents at the Ombudsman’s office = 12
2.7 Meetings with and visits to the administrative agencies = 12
2.8 The Ombudsman’s international activities 13
3. The Ombudsman and his position relative to the administration = 14
3.1 The Ombudsman and Human Rights = 14
3.2 Other questions concerning the Ombudsman’s relations with the Storting and the public administration* = 15
The sections marked* have been dealt with in the Norwegian version of the Annual Report, and are briefly referred to in the English version for the sake of order.
II. Some questions concerning administrative issues of general interest = 16
1. Freedom of expression for civil servants = 16
2. Slow case processing in administrative agencies = 19
3. Access to lists of applicants . how the public administration implements item 4 in the first paragraph of Section 6 of the Freedom of Information Act* = 20
4. A taxpayer’s right of access to proposals put forward by the tax assessment authorities for decision in the tax assessment boards = 20
5. Certain questions connected with mass processing in public administration* = 21
6. The Act concerning Implementation of Sentences - certain case processing issues = 22
7. Certain questions concerning the building and planning authorities’ examination of private law situations* = 22
The sections marked* have been dealt with in the Norwegian version of the Annual Report, and are briefly referred to in the English version for the sake of order.
III. Information concerning complaints and procedures = 24
1. General review = 24
2. Cases concluded = 24
2.1 Cases dismissed - reasons for dismissal = 25
2.2 Cases considered on facts in issue - procedure and outcome = 25
2.3 Cases concluded . broken down by administrative agencies and types of complaint = 27
3. Cases not concluded = 30
IV References to matters of general interest in the Report, cf. Directive, Section 12 = 31
V. Brief summary of selected cases = 34
Appendices
1a Organization of the office of the Ombudsman = 42
1b The staff at the office of the Ombudsman 43
2 The Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway = 44
3 Act concerning the Storting’s Ombudsman for Public Administration = 45
4 Directive to the Storting’s Ombudsman for Public Administration (The Ombudsman) = 48
5 Text of booklet concerning the Parliamentary Ombudsman for Public Administration = 51
1. Office and staff = 9
2. General aspects of the institution’s work and the processing of complaints = 9
2.1 The year 2002 = 9
2.2 The Parliamentary Ombudsman is appointed by the Norwegian Storting = 9
2.3 Investigation of complaints filed with the Ombudsman = 10
2.4 Reorganisation of the Ombudsman’s office = 11
2.5 Empowerment to the Ombudsman’s staff to conclude cases = 11
2.6 Access to documents at the Ombudsman’s office = 12
2.7 Meetings with and visits to the administrative agencies = 12
2.8 The Ombudsman’s international activities 13
3. The Ombudsman and his position relative to the administration = 14
3.1 The Ombudsman and Human Rights = 14
3.2 Other questions concerning the Ombudsman’s relations with the Storting and the public administration* = 15
The sections marked* have been dealt with in the Norwegian version of the Annual Report, and are briefly referred to in the English version for the sake of order.
II. Some questions concerning administrative issues of general interest = 16
1. Freedom of expression for civil servants = 16
2. Slow case processing in administrative agencies = 19
3. Access to lists of applicants . how the public administration implements item 4 in the first paragraph of Section 6 of the Freedom of Information Act* = 20
4. A taxpayer’s right of access to proposals put forward by the tax assessment authorities for decision in the tax assessment boards = 20
5. Certain questions connected with mass processing in public administration* = 21
6. The Act concerning Implementation of Sentences - certain case processing issues = 22
7. Certain questions concerning the building and planning authorities’ examination of private law situations* = 22
The sections marked* have been dealt with in the Norwegian version of the Annual Report, and are briefly referred to in the English version for the sake of order.
III. Information concerning complaints and procedures = 24
1. General review = 24
2. Cases concluded = 24
2.1 Cases dismissed - reasons for dismissal = 25
2.2 Cases considered on facts in issue - procedure and outcome = 25
2.3 Cases concluded . broken down by administrative agencies and types of complaint = 27
3. Cases not concluded = 30
IV References to matters of general interest in the Report, cf. Directive, Section 12 = 31
V. Brief summary of selected cases = 34
Appendices
1a Organization of the office of the Ombudsman = 42
1b The staff at the office of the Ombudsman 43
2 The Constitution of the Kingdom of Norway = 44
3 Act concerning the Storting’s Ombudsman for Public Administration = 45
4 Directive to the Storting’s Ombudsman for Public Administration (The Ombudsman) = 48
5 Text of booklet concerning the Parliamentary Ombudsman for Public Administration = 51