A Department of
Health review of Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies (ANDPBs)
has set out the future of forty health-related public bodies, as
part of a cross-Government review led by the Cabinet Office.
The review is part of the Government’s drive to increase the
transparency and accountability of public services and reduce
their number and cost. It examined the committees, groups and
panels which provide expert advice to Government.
Forty Department of Health bodies were included and the future of
nine of these has already been announced as part of the Department
of Health’s Arm’s Length Body Review in July. The changes
announced today to the Department’s ANDPBs will be in place from
2012. Changes to previously announced Arm’s Length Bodies may take
longer, but all are expected to be in place by 2013/14.
A number of the ANDPBs will have their status changed to that of
a committee of experts. This preserves the independent expert
advice given to the Department and also reduces the level of
administration associated with the body, for example on reporting
and making public appointments.
Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:
“Today’s changes continue our work to increase the accountability
and transparency of public services, as well as ensuring that the
advisory mechanisms we have are fit for purpose. The bodies who
provide essential independent advice to the department will
continue to do so, but they will be streamlined and made more
accountable so that they operate in the most cost effective way.
“We will continue to support the organisations involved through
this period of transition, ensuring we continue to get the highest
quality independent advice from experts to inform policy decisions.”
A full list of the organisations and their futures is below. (The
items with a * have been previously announced in the Department of
Health Arm’s Length Body Review)
To view the tables that accompany this release,
please follow the link below;
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/ImageLibrary/detail.aspx?MediaDetailsID=2470
Notes to
Editors
An Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body is a body which has an
advisory role in the processes of national Government, but is not
a Government Department or part of one.
Further information on the previous announcement on the
Department’s Arm’s Length Body Review can be found here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_117844
An Arm’s Length Body, or Executive Non-Departmental Public Body,
is the same as above, except it always has a statutory remit and
the executive element means it can carry out and implement advice
given.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk