14/10/2010

Quangos Scrapped Under New Plans

Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude has announced that a total of 192 public bodies will be culled or brought under ministerial or local government control.

A further 118 organisations will be merged, with 171 "substantially" reformed.

However, in a recent interview, Mr Maude did not say how much money the move would save.

Regarding the changes, he told Sky News the move would usher in a "new era of accountability" in government.

He added: "It will save the state money, but it is impossible to quantify at this stage.

"The Government is going through a spending review at the moment, of which George Osborne will announce the results next Wednesday.

"There will be savings but it is hard to say how much at this stage, when some of the detailed implementation is still to be carried out."

The changes include local government taking over responsibilities of Development Corporations,

The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, Renewable Fuels Agency and, as previously announced, the Appointments Commission will be brought under more direct Ministerial control.

The Design Council and the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts will also become charities.

The total number of quangos will be cut from 901 to 648, with the future of 40 bodies still under consideration.

(BMcN)

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