by Soon after taking office, David Cameron embarked on a highly publicized “crackdown” – a mission to eliminate more than 100 government agencies he deemed redundant.
Keir Starmer, on the other hand, clearly sees a place for them – Labor has announced plans to establish more than a dozen.
The number of non-departmental public bodies has been declining for years, and currently stands at around 300, down from around 700 in 2010 when Cameron won power. In the 1970s, there were as many as 2,000.
“At the height of executive agencies in the late ’90s, there’s one paper that suggests three-quarters of civil servants were employed in these types of agencies,” said Matthew Gill, program director at the Institute for Government. “That was the point at which you had the bonfire of the quangos led by Cameron and Francis Maude. But the resulting cost reduction was low compared to the reduction in volume.”
The public administration select committee warned in 2011 that the “bone fire” was poorly managed and failed to achieve its key objectives of reducing costs and improving accountability.
Gill said Starmer’s plans for a series of new public bodies reflect his style of government. “He likes to recruit experts or people with experience in certain areas of activity, for example the new prisons minister, James Timpson.”
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Some of the new bodies will be formed by merging existing entities. Others will carry out specific functions within policy priority areas, such as investing in green energy and enforcing workers’ rights.
The Guardian takes a look at the ones that have been announced.
GB Energy
One of Starmer’s most senior new public bodies, GB Energy is central to his policy agenda. A publicly owned company, it will invest in green energy projects and help build clean power supply chains across the UK. The government has pledged £8.3bn of funding and the legislative process to set it up has begun.
Border Security Order
Launched within two days of Labor winning the general election, the Border Security Command is a new immigration enforcement agency that will bring together the police, security services and the National Crime Agency to try to tackle smuggling gangs cross-channel.
English skills
The Starmer government’s key skills policy is to create a new agency tasked with solving skills shortages in England. Led by former Co-op chief executive Richard Pennycook, it will work with employers, the Migration Advisory Committee, unions and the Industrial Strategy Council. It will also lead to reform of the apprenticeship levy.
The Council for Industrial Strategy
Labour’s manifesto commits to establishing an Industrial Strategy Council with representation from all nations and regions as well as businesses and unions. Its stated objective will be to drive growth and end short-term economic policymaking. This is part of the government’s plans for an industrial strategy.
National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority
Two existing public bodies – the National Infrastructure Commission and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority – will be merged into a powerful new authority. The purpose of this new National Infrastructure and Service Reform Authority is to support major infrastructure projects, and is part of the government’s plans to build freight across the UK.
Passenger Standards Authority
Labor will create a “tough” rail passenger watchdog to improve standards on the UK’s train network. The Passenger Standards Authority will independently monitor standards and seek to improve performance, according to the proclamation.
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Office of Regulatory Innovation
Described as a regulator for regulators, this new office is intended to bring together existing functions from all parts of government and to promote innovation in regulation across sectors. The Office of Regulatory Innovation will “expedite approval timelines and coordinate issues that cross existing boundaries,” according to the proclamation.
National Jobs and Careers Service
The Department for Work and Pensions, led by Liz Kendall, has begun the process of merging the Jobcentre Plus network with the National Careers Service, merging two existing public bodies into one. The reformed jobs and careers service will focus on tackling economic inactivity by focusing on careers advice rather than a crackdown on benefits.
Fair Work Agency
As part of the government’s plans to strengthen workers’ rights, a single enforcement body – the Fair Work Agency – will be established. It will implement rights to holiday pay, sick pay and parental leave. Angela Rayner has said she will have the power to impose fines, inspect workplaces, lodge civil proceedings and bring prosecutions.
Ethics and Integrity Commission
Labor has committed to creating an Ethics and Integrity Commission with an independent chair to ensure integrity in government, largely prompted by the series of Conservative sleaze scandals under recent prime ministers.
House of Commons Modernization Committee
Another new body mentioned in Labour’s election manifesto, the modernization committee will seek to reflect some of the MPs’ “sane procedures and outdated working practices” to help MPs better serve their constituencies. He will be tasked with reforming procedures and raising standards.
School Support Staff Negotiating Body
Labor is committed to re-establishing one of the bodies that was canceled by the Cameron fire – the School Support Staff Negotiating Body (SSSSNB). The re-established SSSNB would be a negotiating body for teaching assistants, cleaners, caretakers, technicians, catering staff and other school support staff.
Independent Football Regulator
In plans adopted by the last Conservative government, Labor has committed to passing a football governance bill that would establish an Independent Football Regulator. This will oversee men’s football clubs in England’s top five leagues, and will seek to ensure their financial sustainability.
