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Ministers are contemplating the introduction of a comprehensive legislative measure aimed at dismantling numerous quangos as part of the UK government’s strategic plan to reorganize the public sector and implement significant reductions in civil service positions, according to reports from the Guardian.
Government insiders have revealed that a potential bill is under consideration, which would accelerate the restructuring of over 300 arm’s-length organizations responsible for managing approximately £353 billion in public expenditure.
Pat McFadden, the Cabinet Office minister, has prompted every department within Whitehall to validate the existence and necessity of each quango. Departments that fail to provide adequate justification could see these organizations closed, merged, or their powers reverted back to the respective departments.
According to sources, ministers will be expected to justify the necessity of these bodies, with the assumption that they will face scrutiny unless compelling reasons for their separate operations are presented.
In a recent cabinet meeting, Keir Starmer instructed his team to curtail reliance on external regulators and quangos for decision-making, emphasizing the importance of taking greater ownership of their departmental responsibilities.
NHS England has already been dissolved, reverting healthcare oversight back to ministers. This decision aims to eliminate inefficiencies, improve accountability, and generate cost savings. Additional quangos may be slated for elimination as soon as this week.
The Cabinet Office’s evaluation indicates that quangos wielding significant policy-making power on national issues will be reintegrated into government departments. Meanwhile, specialized personnel from these bodies will continue to work within these sectors, even as broader civil service job reductions are anticipated.
However, quangos that operate independently from ministerial influence, such as those performing regulatory functions or those that oversee government actions to protect the rule of law, will not be affected by these proposed changes.
In conjunction with the pushes to reduce quango influence, the Prime Minister is advocating for departments to leverage evolving technologies, including artificial intelligence, to lower budgets and enhance decision-making efficiency.
The government is also set to limit expenditures on branded merchandise and civil servant team-building events, as part of its wider initiative to curtail what it defines as excessive spending within the civil service. This initiative includes a freeze on numerous procurement cards held by officials.
Mike Clancy, general secretary of the Prospect union, expressed concerns regarding the potential impacts on specialist civil servants working in arm’s-length organizations. He emphasized that their essential roles often go unnoticed in Westminster. Clancy insisted that any transition of functions back to central departments should be guided by clear objectives and justified reasoning.
He also pointed out that many arm’s-length bodies serve advisory roles and perform critical safety functions that require a degree of independence from central government oversight. Clarity is needed on how such independence would be preserved if these organizations were to be merged.
Ultimately, Clancy underscored that any reorganization should prioritize the retention of vital expertise and specialist skills possessed by arm’s-length bodies and facilitate the recruitment and sustenance of the necessary specialists within the civil service.
Source
www.theguardian.com