Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
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Cable announces further quango closures

Cable announces further quango closures

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 19 July 2010

Business Secretary Vince Cable today announced the next step in cutting the number of Department for Business quangos with the abolition of four more partner organisations.

The Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property policy (SABIP), SITPRO (Simplifying International Trade) and the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Advisory Body (WAB) will all close in the next year. The British Shipbuilders Corporation will be abolished next year.

The functions of SABIP will pass to the Intellectual Property Office, and the functions carried out by the remaining organisations will be passed to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

The announcement comes as part of the Government’s commitment to reducing the number and cost of quangos and builds on the 13 Public Bodies closures that have already been announced.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

“We are absolutely committed to reducing the number and cost of quangos that we no longer need. I have already said that I want to reduce the number of these bodies by a third and we’ve achieved a lot in a short space of time. This is the latest phase of that work.

”By bringing these functions back into Government, we make their activities more accountable and can reduce the considerable administrative costs that they place on the taxpayer.”

Today’s announcement brings the total number of BIS quangos to be abolished, merged or receive no further funding from the Department to 17. The next phase of streamlining, which is likely to account for the remainder of bodies identified for in-year reform, is expected to be announced in the Autumn.

Notes to editors

1. The annual cost of these bodies is £8.62 million, which includes the liabilities met by British Shipbuilders.

2. BIS will continue to meet the liabilities of British Shipbuilders, primarily compensation for personal injury.

3. The abolition, merger or termination of BIS funding of 13 Public Bodies was announced on 24 May 2010. Those bodies are: seven Regional Industrial Development Boards: UfI/Learndirect; Learning & Skills Improvement Service; Institute for Learning; Standards and Verification UK; IiP UK; and Hearing Aid Council.

4. BIS' online newsroom contains the latest press notices, speeches, as well as video and images for download. It also features an up to date list of BIS press office contacts. See http://www.bis.gov.uk/newsroom for more information.

Contacts:

BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Helen Cook
Phone: 020 7215 6963
Helen.Cook@bis.gsi.gov.uk

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