Ombudsman Arlene Brock has given Government a deadline of next month to respond properly to her damning July 2009 report on the Bermuda Archives.

Ms Brock found evidence of maladministration at the official repository for Government records after a six-month investigation last year and made a series of recommendations for improvement.

The Cabinet Office had until the end of August to respond to her 162-page report with details of the action it had taken or proposed to take to implement them. It is required by law to explain reasons for not taking action.

Ms Brock told The Royal Gazette she received a response on August 25 but needed clarification on some of the statements it contained.

She told this newspaper on September 9: "In order for me to develop a reasoned opinion of the response I am currently drafting questions for the authority to clarify statements made therein. Accordingly, I have no further public comment at this time."

On November 4, she said: "I have extended the date to the beginning of December for the substantive response."

On December 17, Ms Brock told us in an e-mail: "To date, I have not yet been notified of substantive actions taken or proposed (or reasons for not implementing).

"I have been notified of procedural actions proposed with respect to four of the recommendations."

She said the Cabinet Office had told her it would ensure full consultation with the Archives Advisory Council (AAC) on her recommendations regarding its role.

The Cabinet Office also told Ms Brock that the Cabinet Secretary would "canvass" the head of the Civil Service about improving staff training and bringing in an overseas archivist to manage the Archives for at least a year.

Ms Brock said: "Before submitting a response to Parliament in accordance with... the Ombudsman Act, I will meet early in the new year with the Premier [the Minister responsible for the Archives] to discuss any substantive actions taken or proposed."

On Friday, the Ombudsman tabled her fourth annual report in the House of Assembly. In an accompanying press release, she said she had now extended the deadline for a detailed response to the end of March "as a few of the recommendations have financial and possibly legislative implications".