I wish to present a petition to the House on behalf of Mr. Dudley St. John Holmes and a number of other constituents of mine. It relates to the residents of the Constituency of West Chelmsford in the Essex region of the United Kingdom regarding the Government's response to the parliamentary ombudsman's reports on Equitable Life.

The petition states:

The Petition of residents of the constituency of West Chelmsford, Essex,

Declares that the Petitioners either are or they represent or support members, former members or personal representatives of deceased members of the Equitable Life Assurance Society who have suffered maladministration leading to injustice, as found by the Parliamentary Ombudsman in her report upon Equitable Life, ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 16 July 2008 and bearing reference number HC 815; and further declares that the Petitioners or those whom they represent or support have suffered regulatory failure on the part of the public bodies responsible from the year 1992 onwards, but have not received compensation for the resulting losses and outrage.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to uphold the constitutional standing of the Parliamentary Ombudsman by complying in full with the findings and recommendations of her Report upon Equitable Life.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

[P000413]