Extracts from news published on the Ombudsman’s website in 2018 | 103 The Ombudsman states that the course of action was illegal and that the boy’s legal rights were severely infringed. He also states that Esbjerg Municipality had a very significant share in the responsibility for what happened. may be entitled to higher pension contributions. This follows from a decision made and published by the National Social Appeals Board after the Ombudsman raised a question about the state of the law. 6 July Assessment of policy proposals by Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior 4 September Assessment of policy proposals by Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior According to reports in several media, civil servants of the Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior have been asked by the Minister for Economic Affairs and the Interior to assess the effects of a number of potential policy proposals. In this connection, questions have been raised about whether this is in accordance with the rules on ministers’ use of assistance from the civil service. … The Ombudsman is now awaiting the outcome of proceedings in Parliament in relation to the matter before deciding whether to take any action. 6 July Non-disbursement of child support payments is due to problems with collection by Customs and Tax Administration Increasing numbers of single parents have not received child support payments because the Danish Customs and Tax Administration (SKAT) has not collected payments due to them from the other parent, the Ombudsman reports in a statement which has just been published. 28 August Parents of children with disabilities may be entitled to higher pension contributions Parents who receive compensation for loss of earnings because they look after their disabled children at home As matters now stand, the Ombudsman has decided not to take up a case with the Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior about the limits to assistance from the civil service to ministers. 24 September Faster replies to appeals against refusals from municipalities and regions of access to documents or information Journalists and others who appeal to the National Social Appeals Board against a refusal by a municipality or region of a request for access to documents or information can now expect a considerably faster reply than previously. For an extended period of time, the Ombudsman has been monitoring developments in the processing times of the National Social Appeals Board for appeals against refusals by municipalities and regions of access to documents or information. 25 September Ombudsman raises questions about use of news exclusive in case about dissolution of Loyal to Familia gang On 28 June 2018, several media reported that the Prosecution Service would bring a case before the courts to try to have the Loyal to Familia (LTF) gang dissolved. The Parliamentary Ombudsman is now raising ques­ tions about the Ministry of Justice’s use of a news exclusive in the case – including about the timing of the Ministry’s notification of LTF’s lawyer.