Smaller Government: Shrinking the Quango State

Current status: Report published, Government Reponse received

The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) launched an inquiry on 10 September 2010 into the government’s plans to cut the number of quangos as part of its wider interest in ‘smaller government’.

The Committee examined the following issues:

• Whether the Government’s criteria for deciding which public bodies should continue to exist are the correct ones?
• How effective and transparent is the process for abolishing quangos?
• How to improve the accountability and efficiency of remaining quangos?

PASC received written evidence on issues relating to this inquiry. Full details are set out in the Issues and Questions paper. 

The report was published on 7 January 2011.

Government response

Report and oral evidence

Additional written evidence

Letter from PASC to Information Commissioner's Office

Additional letter from the Information Commissioner's Office

National Audit Office memorandum on assessing business cases for changes to arm's length bodies  

Issues and Questions Paper:

Issues and Questions paper ( PDF 791 KB)

Press Notice:

28 October 2010: PASC to question Minister on Quangos cull

4 November 2010: PASC to hear from Unions and Academics on Quangos cull

22 November 2010: PASC to hold joint evidence session on Ministers and Quangos

7 January 2011: PASC publishes report on Quangos

Link to evidence session:

3 November 2010

9 November 2010

23 November 2010