Government Considering Cutting Hundreds of Quangos to Reduce Costs and Increase Efficiency
The decision to axe NHS England was announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as part of a plan to reduce bureaucracy and save money.
Following this, the Cabinet Office has directed all government departments to review every quango, stating that those unable to justify their existence will be closed, merged, or brought back under direct control.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden emphasized the need to eliminate waste and inefficiency in Whitehall through this review, ultimately saving taxpayer money.
Quangos, such as Ofcom and the Migration Advisory Committee, are taxpayer-funded bodies that operate independently of ministers. Some may now come under government control, especially those with significant policy functions.
Efforts are being made to reduce duplication and bureaucracy in government operations, with a focus on ensuring that essential national decisions are made by elected officials.
Unions, such as Prospect and PCS, have expressed concerns about the potential merging or closure of quangos, stressing the importance of maintaining specialist knowledge and independence in certain advisory roles.
Last month, Starmer also revealed plans to scrap NHS England to bring the management of the NHS back under the Department for Health and Social Care, citing the need to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.
The move to review and potentially overhaul the quangos aligns with the government’s goal of creating a more coherent civil service while saving costs and streamlining operations.
