The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 is an Act of the Scottish Parliament which establishes an organisation for handling complaints about public services in Scotland.

The Act makes provision for an officer, known as the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, to be appointed and outlines functions to be exercised.

The Act also provides for the Ombusdman taking over non-statutory duties from the Housing Association Ombudsman for Scotland.

In October 2000 the Scottish Executive published a consultation paper “Modernising the Complaints System” to stimulate debate on proposals to simplify complaints procedures and streamline the existing ombudsman system.

[2][3] In July 2001 a second consultation paper was published- “A Modern Complaints System”, which set out more detailed proposals relating to the work of public sector ombudsmen in Scotland, taking into account responses to the initial consultation.