Quasi-Autonomous Nongovernmental Organization

The ubiquitous quango; non elected, non Government, over funded and under threat, well at least from David (Dave) Cameron.

A Tory government would close one schools quango, while another - media regulator Ofcom - would be stripped of its policy-making role, he will say.

The Tory leader will ask shadow cabinet ministers to identify which bodies within their areas should be cut back.

In his speech he will say that the media regulator Ofcom would lose its policy making functions and the schools' Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) which develops the national curriculum would be closed.

But another quango, Ofqual, the exams regulator, would be retained.

He said too many quangos had become "lobbying organisations" and there was duplication where they were making policy, while government departments were doing the same thing.

Many had been "empire building" he said and 68 quango heads were now paid more than the prime minister.

The government says there are 790, others - including the pressure group the Taxpayers' Alliance says there are 1,162. As a result the estimated cost varies from between £34bn and about £60bn.

Here is an idea, scrap the whole lot, save £60 billion, and let the government do its job as a regulator, responsible to the electorate.


Angus

Angus Dei on all and sundry

Angus Dei-NHS-THE OTHER SIDE