The purpose of the Bill is to:

•Ensure that there will be a greater degree of transparency and accountability for all Public Bodies (‘quangos’); and provide Ministers with the powers to abolish, merge or transfer functions.

The main benefits of the Bill would be:

•Cutting the number of public bodies.

•Reducing the cost of bureaucracy: anticipated year on year savings of £1 billion.

•New powers to allow Ministers to abolish, merge or transfer functions from public bodies.

The main elements of the Bill are:

•Ensuring greater accountability, transparency and efficiency in Government by reducing the number and cost of public bodies (quangos).

•Give ministers the powers to abolish, merge or transfer quangos back into Departments. As at 31 March 2009, there were 766 non-departmental public bodies. They spend over £46 billion a year and employ over 110,000 people.

•To review the functions of all public bodies every three years, as opposed to the current practice of every 5 years. The review will comprise a test: ‘Is the function technical; does it need to be politically impartial; and do facts need to be determined transparently?’

Related documents:

•The Coalition: our programme for government http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/409088/pfg_coalition.pdf

Existing legislation in this area:

•None

Devolution:

The Bill applies to England and Wales.