§ 60. Mr. Dickensasked the Minister for the Civil Service how many non-departmental public bodies have been (a) abolished or (b) reformed since May 1979.
§ Mr. LuceBetween 1979 and 1985 a total of 756 non-departmental public bodies were abolished, rationalised or substantially reduced. During that period 242 new bodies were set up, resulting in a net reduction of 514.
§ Mr. DickensCan my right hon. Friend confirm that the Government's quango hunt has not run out of steam?
§ Mr. LuceI can confirm that. In the past year, in which there has been a review of the number of quangos, there has been a continuing net reduction.
§ Mr. Tony BanksDoes the Minister believe that when non-departmental bodies are set up by the Government, particularly when they replace democratically elected bodies — I am thinking specifically of the residuary bodies that were set up to replace the democratically elected Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils — Ministers should have the guts to answer questions about the activities of those non-departmental bodies?
§ Mr. LuceI think that we are referring here to transitional bodies. The criterion whether a new quango should be set up is whether it can be proved to be the most cost-effective means of fulfilling Government policy.