Bonfire of the quangos

A number of non-departmental government bodies / quangos have been named as being up for abolition, merger or absorption into parent departments, as part of the Coalition Government's Spending Review, due this autumn. This has been widely dubbed in the press as a "bonfire of the quangos".

The list of quangos up for review is still being compiled, and there have been a number of clarifications, amendments and retractions as further details come to light.

As dates are confirmed and necessary legislation made, these should be copied into Current events.

• 24/09/2010 - The Telegraph has obtained a list of 177 quangos up for abolition - they are listed in full below.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

• Main announcement: [1]
• To be abolished:
  • Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property policy (SABIP)
  • SITPRO (Simplifying International Trade)
  • Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Advisory Body (WAB)
  • British Shipbuilders Corporation (to be abolished 2011)

• Announced 24 May 2010
  • seven Regional Industrial Development Boards
  • UfI/Learndirect
  • Learning & Skills Improvement Service
  • Institute for Learning
  • Standards and Verification UK
  • IiP UK
  • Hearing Aid Council (closing 31 July 2010, powers are being transferred to HPC[2])

Department for Communities and Local Government

• Main announcement: [3]
• To be abolished:
  • Government Office for the South-West
  • Government Office for the South-East
  • Government Office for the East Midlands
  • Government Office for the West Midlands
  • Government Office for the East of England
  • Government Office for the North-West
  • Government Office for the Yorkshire & the Humber
  • Government Office for the North-East
  • Government Office for London
  • Regional Spatial Strategies
  • Regional Assemblies/Regional Leaders' Boards
  • the Regional Development Agencies

Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)

• Main announcement: [4]
• Changes announced:
  • abolishing the UK Film Council and establishing a direct and less bureaucratic relationship with the British Film Institute; this would support front-line services while ensuring greater value for money - Government and Lottery support for film will continue
  • abolishing the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to focus efforts on front-line, essential services and ensure greater value for money - Government support for museums, libraries and archives will continue
  • merging UK Sport and Sport England, creating a more effective structure to deliver elite sport success and a wider sports legacy from the 2012 games
• DCMS is also looking at:
  • abolishing the Advisory Council on Libraries and winding up the Legal Deposit Advisory Panel
  • abolishing the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites
  • declassifying the Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships and transferring its functions to another body
  • declassifying the Theatres Trust so it can act as an independent statutory advisory body
  • looking at its responsibility for heritage and the built environment, and considering the role and remit of English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Heritage Memorial Fund
  • considering the role of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
  • discussing with the Church of England the merits of declassifying the Churches Conservation Trust
  • considering whether to change the status, role and functions of Visit England and Visit Britain
  • it intends to merge the National Lottery Commission with the Gambling Commission, subject to further consideration of the business case.

Department for Education

• Abolition of General Teaching Council for England (GTC) [5]
• Abolition of British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) [6]

Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)

tbc

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

• Main announcement: [7]
• Defra will carry out this as part of the Public Bodies Reform Bill
• To be abolished:
  • Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
  • Agricultural Wages Board
  • the 15 Agricultural Wages Committees
  • the 16 Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees
  • Committee on Agricultural Valuation
  • Inland Waterways Advisory Council
  • Commons Commissioners
  • Defra is also withdrawing funding from the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC)

Department for Transport

tbc

Department of Health

• Announcement 26/07/2010 [8]
• To be abolished:
  • Alcohol Education and Research Council - to be abolished
  • Appointments Commission - to be abolished during 2012. Move remaining appointments to the Department of Health.
  • Care Quality Commission - Retain as quality inspectorate across health and social care, operating a joint licensing regime with Monitor. Host organisation for Healthwatch England. Current responsibility of assessing NHS commissioning moves to the NHS Commissioning Board. May gain functions from other organisations, e.g. HTA and HFEA.
  • Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence - Remove from the sector. Make a self-funding body by charging a levy on regulators. Extend role to set standards for and quality assure voluntary registers.
  • General Social Care Council - Transfer the regulation of social workers to the Health Professions Council, which will be renamed to reflect its new remit.
  • Health and Social Care Information Centre - Retain, and put on a firmer statutory footing by establishing it in primary legislation. National repository for data collection across health care, public health and adult social care. Clearer focus on data collection, with a close working relationship with the NHS Commissioning Board.
  • Health Protection Agency - Abolish as a statutory organisation and transfer functions to the Secretary of State as part of the new Public Health Service.
  • Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HEFA) - Retain as a separate ALB for the time being, with the aim of transferring its functions by the end of the current Parliament. In the meantime, we will examine the practicalities (and legal implications) of how to divide the HFEA’s functions between a new research regulator, the Care Quality Commission and the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
  • Human Tissue Authority - Retain as a separate ALB for the time being, with the aim of transferring its functions by the end of the current Parliament. In the meantime, we will examine the practicalities (and legal implications) of how to divide the HTA’s functions between a new research regulator, the Care Quality Commission and the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
  • Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency - Retain, but with the expectation that it will undertake its regulatory duties in the most cost effective way.
  • Monitor - Retain and make an economic regulator, operating a joint licensing regime with CQC.
  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - Retain, and put on a firmer statutory footing by establishing it in primary legislation. Expand scope to include social care standards.
  • National Patient Safety Agency - Abolish as an ALB. Safety functions retained and transferred to the National Commissioning Board. Explore transfer of National Research and Ethics Service functions to single research regulator. National Clinical Assessment Service to become self-funding over the next two to three years.
  • National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse - Abolish as an ALB, and transfer functions to the Secretary of State as part of the new Public Health Service.
  • NHS Blood and Transplant - Retain, and commission an in-depth review of opportunities to make more commercially effective. Transfer Bio-Products Laboratory out of NHSBT into a Department of Health owned company.
  • NHS Business Services Authority - Retain in short term, and commission commercial review to identify potential for increased commercial opportunities, including potential to remove functions from the ALB sector.
  • NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement - Abolish. Move functions which will support the NHS Commissioning Board in leading for quality improvement to the Board. Review the potential for its remaining functions to be delivered through alternative commercial delivery models.
  • NHS Litigation Authority - Retain, and commission an industry review to identify potential opportunities for greater commercial involvement.

Ministry of Defence

tbc

Telegraph list of quangos to be abolished (24/09/2010)

Public bodies to be abolished (177 bodies)

• The Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council
• The Advisory Board on the Registration of Homoeopathic Products
• The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
• Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections
• The Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances
• Advisory Committee on Carbon Abatement Technologies
• The Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites
• Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships
• The Advisory Committee on Organic Standards
• The Advisory Committee on Packaging
• The Advisory Committee on Pesticides
• Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection
• Advisory Committee on the safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs
• The Advisory Council on Libraries
• The Advisory Group on Hepatitis
• Advisory Panel on Local Innovation Awards
• Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate
• Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committee (16 bodies)
• Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales
• Agricultural Wages Committee (15 bodies)
• Air Quality Expert Group
• Alcohol Education and Research Council
• The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
• Appointments Commission
• The Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England also more simply known as the Audit Commission)
• The British Educational Communications and Technology Agency
• British Nuclear Fuels
• British Shipbuilders
• The British Waterways Board
• Capacity Builders
• Caribbean Board
• Churches Conservation Trust
• Commission for Integrated Transport
• The Commission for Rural Communities
• Commissioner for the Compact
• The Committee on Agricultural Valuation (dormant at present [9])
• The Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
• Committee on Medical Aspects of Air Pollutants
• The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
• The Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
• The Committee on Safety of Devices
• Commons Commissioners
• Consular Stakeholder Panel
• The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
• Courts Boards (19 bodies)
• Crown Court Rule Committee
• Cycling England
• The Darwin Advisory Committee
• The Disability Employment Advisory Committee
• The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board
• The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
• The Expert Advisory Group on AIDS
• An Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards
• The Farm Animal Welfare Council
• Food from Britain (closed 2009-03-31 [10])
• Foreign Compensation Commission
• The Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
• The General Social Care Council
• The General Teaching Council for England
• The Genetic Testing and Insurance Committee
• The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine
• Government Strategic Marketing Advisory Board
• The Health Protection Agency
• The Hearing Aid Council (added by SI 2003/1882; removed by Health and Social Care Act 2008 and SI 2010/708)
• Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee
• HM Inspectorate of Court Administration
• The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
• The Human Genetics Commission
• The Human Tissue Authority
• Independent Advisory Group of Sexual Health and HIV
• The Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy
• The Independent Living Funds
• Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products
• The Independent Review Panel for Advertising of Medicines
• The Infrastructure Planning Commission *The Inland Waterways Advisory Council
• Insolvency Practitioners Tribunal
• The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
• The Legal Deposit Advisory Panel
• The Legal Services Commission
• The Legal Services Ombudsman (removed by Legal Services Act 2007)
• London Thames Gateway Development Corporation*
• Main Honours Advisory Committee
• Magistrates' Court Rule Committee
• Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
• National Housing and Planning Advice Unit
• National Information Governance Board
• National Joint Registry Steering Committee
• National Policing Improvement Agency
• National Standing Committee for Farm Animal Genetic Resources
• National Tenant Voice
• National Endowment for Science, Technology and Arts
• Office for the Civil Society Advisory Bodies
• Olympic Park Legacy Company*
• Pesticides Residues Committee
• Public Guardian Board
• Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency
• Railway Heritage Committee
• Regional Development Agencies (8 bodies)
• Renewables Advisory Board
• Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
• School Food Trust
• School Support Staff Negotiating Body
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
• Security Commission
• Security Industry Authority
• SITPRO
• Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
• Standards Board for England
• Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property
• Sustainable Development Commission
• Teachers TV Board
• The Theatres Trust
• Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation*
• UK Chemical Weapons Convention National Authority Advisory Committee
• UK Film Council
• Union Modernisation Advisory Fund
• Veterinary Residues Committee
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Advisory Board
• West Northamptonshire Development Corporation*
• Women's National Commission
• Zoos Forum

(*) = Responsibility devolved to relevant Local Authority

Public bodies to be privatised (4 bodies)

• Construction and Skills Training Board
• Engineering Construction Industry
• Film Industry Training Board
• The Tote Board

Public bodies to be merged or consolidated (Maximum of 129 bodies reduced to Minimum of 57)

• Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace, (101 bodies – to be reduced to 49)
• Central Arbitration Committee, Single Arbitration Panel
• Certification Office, (as above)
• Competition Appeals Tribunal, Single Tribunals Service
• Competition Service, (as above)
• Copyright Tribunal, (as above)
• Police Advisory Board, (as above)
• Police Negotiating Board, (as above)
• Police Arbitration Tribunal, (as above)
• Rent Assessment Panels, (as above)
• Residential Property Tribunal Service, (as above)
• Valuation Tribunal for England, (as above)
• Valuation Tribunal Service, (as above)
• Crown Prosecution Service, Single Prosecution Service
• Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office, (as above)
• English Heritage, Single Heritage Body
• National Heritage Memorial Fund, (as above)
• National Heritage Lottery Fund, (as above)
• Football Licensing Authority, Single Sport Body
• Sport England, (as above)
• UK Sport, (as above)
• Gambling Commission, Single Gambling Regulator
• National Lottery Commission, (as above)
• Ofcom, Single Communications Regulator
• Postcomm, (as above)
• Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner, Single Immigration Body
• Pensions Ombudsman, Single Pensions Regulator
• Pensions Protection Fund Ombudsman, (as above)
• Serious Organised Crime Agency, Merged into National Crime Agency
• Public bodies still under review (94 bodies)
• Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objectors
• Advisory Council on Public Records
• Advisory Council on National Records and Archives
• Advisory Council on Historical Manuscripts
• Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information
• Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board
• Animal Procedures Committee
• BBC World Service
• British Council
• British Hallmarking Council
• Building Regulations Advisory Committee
• Carbon Trust
• Chief Coroner of England and Wales
• Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
• Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
• Children's Workforce Development Council
• Civil Justice Council
• Coal Authority
• Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
• Community Development Foundation
• Competition Commission
• Consumer Council for Water
• Consumer Focus
• Covent Garden Market Authority
• Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority
• Design Council
• Diplomatic Service Appeals Board
• Exports Credit Guarantee Department
• Energy Savings Trust
• Environment Agency
• Equality and Human Rights Commission
• Family Justice Council
• Firebuy
• Forestry Commission
• Fuel Poverty Advisory Group
• Historic Royal Palaces
• Homes and Community Agency
• Horserace Betting Levy Board
• Independent Safeguarding Authority
• Industrial Development Advisory Board
• Investigatory Powers Tribunal
• Joint Nature Conservation Committee
• Law Commission of England and Wales
• Leasehold Advisory Service
• Local Better Regulation Office
• National Museums and Galleries (18 bodies*)
• National Army Museum
• National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services
• National Employer Advisory Board
• National Forest Company
• National Museum of the Royal Navy
• Natural England
• Office for Fair Access
• Office for Fair Trading
• OFWAT
• Partnership for Schools
• Public Lending Right Committee
• Public Trustee Youth Justice Board
• Rail Passengers' Committee
• Remploy, Ltd.
• Renewable Fuels Agency
• Royal Air Force Museum
• Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
• Royal Mint Advisory Committee on the Design of Coins, Medals, Seals and Decorations
• Sea Fish Industry Authority
• Student Loans Company
• Tenant Services Authority
• The National Archives
• The Office of the Children's Commissioner
• The Pensions Advisory Service
• Training and Development Agency for Schools
• UK Atomic Energy Agency
• UK India Round Table
• UK Supreme Court
• Visit Britain
• Visit England
• Young People's Learning Agency

(*) Refers to those National Museums and Galleries in England which are publicly-funded by DCMS and receive rebates of VAT incurred in the course of their activities, in order them to enable free admission to the public. These are:

• The British Museum;
• The Imperial War Museum;
• The National Gallery;
• The National Maritime Museum;
• The National Museums & Galleries of Merseyside;
• The Natural History Museum;
• The Royal Armouries; The Science Museum;
• The National Museum of Photography, Film and Television;
• The National Railway Museum;
• The National Coal Mining Museum for England;
• The Tate Galleries; The Wallace Collection;
• The Greater Manchester Museum of Science and Industry;
• Sir John Soane’s Museum;
• The Museum of London;
• The Geffrye Museum; and
• The Horniman Museum.

Other publicly-funded museums (The British Library, The National Army Museum, etc.) are separately referred to in this list, and museums in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a devolved matter (although they also receive rebates of VAT).

Public bodies which will be retained (350 bodies)

• ACAS
• Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee
• Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
• Advisory Committee on Civil Costs
• Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards
• Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances
• Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment
• Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
• Advisory Group on Military Medicine
• Agricultural Land Tribunal
• Architects Registration Board
• Armed Forces Pay Review Body
• Arts Council England
• BBC
• Big Lottery Fund
• British Railway Board (Residuary) Ltd
• British Library
• British Pharmocopoeia Commission
• British Transport Police
• British Wool Marketing *Board
• Broads Authority
• Capital for Enterprise
• Care Quality Commission
• Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation
• Central Office of Information
• [NB list is truncated on the Telegraph website]