§ 27. Mr. David HeathTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his plans to(a) abolish quangos and (b) introduce a significant element of democratic accountability to quangos. [9734]
§ Dr. David ClarkAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Mr. Pickthall) on 18 June,Official Report, column 174, the Government believe that the previous Administration created too many unelected, undemocratic quangos. We have therefore instituted a review of quangos with the aim of reducing overall numbers.
Last Thursday, Official Report, column 693, in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for The Wrekin (Mr. Bradley), I announced proposals to issue a discussion paper in the autumn, considering how democratic oversight of public bodies might best be enhanced. In the light of consultation, we have brought forward proposals in the White Paper on Better Government to be published later this year.