2010 UK quango reforms

UK government initiative September 2020 September 2020 Following the 2010 general election, the UK Government under the Cameron–Clegg coalition announced plans to curb public spending through the abolition of a large number of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations (quangos). This was styled in the national press as a "bonfire of the quangos",https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11536323 Politicians' love/hate relationship with quangos Parkinson, Justin BBC News 14 October 2010 15 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101017023421/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11536323 17 October 2010 live making reference to Girolamo Savonarola's religiously inspired Bonfire of the Vanities ("falò delle vanità").Gabbatt Adam 15 October 2010 Quango lingo: Bonfire of the vanities, and other inanities https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/oct/15/quango-bonfire-of-the-vanities 3 May 2026 The GuardianLeach Mark 14 October 2015 Has Hefce had its chips? https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/oct/14/has-hefce-had-its-chips 3 May 2026 The Guardian On 23 May 2010, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne unveiled a £500 million plan to reduce the budget deficit by abolishing or merging many quangos. The cuts and closures received criticism in some quarters,https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/8022487/Quango-cuts-backlash-begins.html Quango cuts: backlash begins Porter, Andrew The Daily Telegraph 23 September 2010 15 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101027212531/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/8022487/Quango-cuts-backlash-begins.html 27 October 2010 dead but was generally welcomed by the business community.http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23887907-business-rejoices-at-governments-cull-of-quangos.do Businesses rejoice as Whitehall starts the cull of quangos London Evening Standard 14 October 1010 15 October 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101022060623/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23887907-business-rejoices-at-governments-cull-of-quangos.do 22 October 2010 dead A decade later in 2021, the UK Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee claimed in a report that the reforms “failed to spark” and that the Cabinet Office has “not been enforcing the code for public appointments”.https://www.cityam.com/report-george-osbornes-bonfire-of-the-quangos-has-failed-to-spark/ Report: George Osborne's 'bonfire of the quangos' has 'failed to spark' 23 September 2021 CityAM 3 May 2026 Boscia Stefan Categorisation of reform On 14 October 2010, the government released a document Public Bodies Reform – Proposals for Change outlining plans for each quango. The document broadly classified each quango into one of four groups:http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191543.pdf Public Bodies Reform – Proposals for Change UK Government 15 October 1010 15 October 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120112132526/http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/%40dg/%40en/documents/digitalasset/dg_191543.pdf 12 January 2012 Retain the government thought it expedient to retain the organisation Merge the organisation would be merged with another organ of state or its function could be replicated by a third sector organisation Abolish the organisation would be abolished Under consideration firm plans were not drawn up for organisations in this category, but deadlines were set for complete consideration. The document also contained a description of which ministry of state or government department the organisation was part of. Quangos to be abolished The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Arbitration Tribunal British Shipbuilders Union Modernisation Fund Supervisory Board The Cabinet Office Office for Civil Society Advisory Body Communities and Local Government Advisory Panel for the Local Innovation Awards Scheme The Department for Communities and Local Government National Housing and Planning Advice Unit National Tenant Voice Standards Board for England The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Advisory Council on Libraries Legal Deposit Advisory Panel The Department of Energy and Climate Change Advisory Committee on Carbon Abatement Technologies Renewables Advisory Board The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Advisory Committee on Organic Standards Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales Agricultural Wages Committees Animal Health and Welfare Strategy England Implementation Group Committee on Agricultural Valuation Commons Commissioners Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards Food from Britain Inland Waterways Advisory Council Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution The Department for Education Teachers TV Board of Governors The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Caribbean Board Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine The Ministry of Justice Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council Courts boards Legal Services Ombudsman Public Guardian Board Victim's Advisory Panel Youth Justice Board for England and Wales Animal Welfare Advisory Committee The Department for Transport Railway Heritage Committee Quangos to be abolished with reservations Some or all functions of these quangos was to be transferred to civil service, local government, other quangos, expert committees, charity or the private sector. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills British Nuclear Fuels Limited Competition Service Copyright Tribunal Design Council Hearing Aid Council NESTANational Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. Regional development agencies BIS SITPRO Limited Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Advisory BodyAlso known as WAB. The Cabinet Office Civil Service Appeal Board Commission for the Compact Government Strategic Marketing Advisory Board Main Honours Advisory Committee Security Commission The Department for Communities and Local Government Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England Community Development Foundation Firebuy Infrastructure Planning Commission London Thames Gateway Development Corporation Olympic Park Legacy Company Limited Rent Assessment Panels / Residential Property Tribunal Service The Office for Tenants and Social LandlordsAlso known as Tenant Services Authority. Thurrock Development Corporation Valuation Tribunal for England Valuation Tribunal Service West Northamptonshire Development Corporation The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection Football Licensing Authority Horserace Totalisator Board Museums, Libraries and Archives Council Public Lending Right The Theaters Trust UK Film Council The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee on Packaging Advisory Committee on Pesticides Air Quality Expert Group British Waterways Commission for Rural Communities Darwin Advisory Committee Farm Animal Welfare Council National Standing Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources Pesticide Residues Committee Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee Veterinary Residues Committee Zoos Forum Department for Education British Educational Communications and Technology Agency General Teaching Council for England Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency School Food Trust The Department of Health Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs Advisory Group on Hepatitis Alcohol Education and Research Council Appointments Commission Committee on Carcogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment Committee on the Safety of Devices Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence Expert Advisory Group on AIDS Gene Therapy Advisory Committee General Social Care Council Genetics and Insurance Committee Health Protection Agency Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Human Genetics Commission Human Tissue Authority Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products Independent Review panel on the Advertising of Medicines Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care National Joint Registry Steering Committee Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition The Ministry of Justice Chief Coroner of England and Wales / Chief Coroner's Office Crown Court Rule Committee H.M. Inspectorate of Court Administration Legal Services Commission Magistrates' Courts Rule Committee Security Industry Authority Women's National Commission The Department for Transport BRB (Residuary) Limited Cycling England Renewable Fuels Agency The Department for Work and Pensions Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission Disability Employment Advisory Committee Disability Living Allowance / Attendance Allowance Advisory Board Quangos to be merged The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Ofcom Central Arbitration Committee Certification Office Competition Commission Office of Fair Trading Postal Services Commission The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Gambling Commission National Lottery Commission UK Sport Sport England The Ministry of Justice Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace Advisory Council on Historical Manuscripts Advisory Council on Public Records Crown Prosecution Service Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office Serious Organised Crime Agency The Department for Work and Pensions Pensions Ombudsman Pensions Protection Fund Ombudsman Quangos to be reviewed The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Engineering Construction Industry Training Board Film Industry Training Board Insolvency Practitioners Tribunal Local Better Regulation Office - dissolved on 1 April 2012, its functions taken over by the Better Regulation Delivery Office, an independent unit within the BIS. Office for Fair Access Student Loans Company UK Atomic Energy Authority UK Commission for Employment and Skills The Cabinet Office Central Office of Information National School of Government The Leasehold Advisory Service The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Agricultural Land Tribunal Consumer Council for Water Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal Sea Fish Licence Tribunal Sustainable Development Commission The Department of Education Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service Children's Workforce Development Council National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services Partnerships for Schools School Support Staff Negotiating Body The Office of the Children's Commissioner Training and Development Agency for Schools Young People's Learning Agency Under consideration The Foreign and Commonwealth Office Diplomatic Service Appeals Board Foreign Compensation Commission Great Britain China Centre UK India Round Table The Ministry of Justice Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information Judicial Appointments Commission Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman The Home Office Independent Safeguarding Authority Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner Police Advisory Board, Police Negotiating Board and Police Arbitration Tribunal References Quango reforms Category:Public bodies and task forces of the United Kingdom government Quango reforms Category:Reform in the United Kingdom