§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) how many public bodies sponsored by other Departments have been(a) merged and (b) abolished since 1997 as a result of a quinquennial review by his Department; and if he will make a statement; [174709]
(2) how many quinquennial reviews of public bodies have been carried out since 1997; on what dates; and for which Departments. [174710]
§ Mr. AlexanderIt is the responsibility of the relevant parent Department to ensure its public bodies are kept under review. Cabinet Office does not carry out such reviews for other Departments. The rigid requirement to review public bodies in accordance with detailed guidelines at least every five years ceased in 2002. Sponsor Departments now have greater flexibility in determining the appropriate timing and format for reviewing a particular public body. Information about the number and timing of reviews of public bodies by Departments is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.