§ Mr. SykesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many quangos his Department was responsible for(a) in 1979 and (b) in the latest year for which a number is available;
(2) which quangos his Department has abolished since 1979.
§ Mr. SoamesA full list of non-departmental public bodies, in existence for each year since 1979, is available in the following publications: "Report on Non-Departmental Public Bodies", Pliatzky Report, Cm 7797, January 1980, "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: Facts and Figures 1980", and "Public Bodies", published annually from 1982. Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.
For each year since 1986, lists have been prepared centrally of public bodies which have been created and abolished. Copies will be sent to the Libraries of both Houses. Such summary data for the years 1979 to 1985 were not prepared and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.