Asked by: Lord Booth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many arm's-length bodies they have set up since the General Election in July 2024, and what estimate they have made of the annual cost of each of these bodies.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Cabinet Office maintains records and oversight of formally established Arm’s Length Bodies. There are a number of Arm’s Length Bodies currently going through the process of being established. No new ALBs have been formally established since 4 July 2024.
In a speech last week, the Prime Minister also announced that the Government is committed to cutting bureaucracy across the state, in order to focus government on the priorities of working people and shift money to the frontline. As part of this, the Prime Minister announced the abolition of the arms-length body NHS England.
The Chancellor has also announced a new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth, including by simplifying regulatory structures. As we approach the 2025 Spending Review, Departments will be considering where there may be benefits from merging, consolidating or rationalising the regulators they sponsor. We have already announced that we will consolidate the Payment Systems Regulator, primarily within the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and consolidate the Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority, the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate and the Director of Labour Market Enforcement into the Fair Work Agency (FWA)
Asked by: Lord Booth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce honorary titles for (1) spouses of female peers, and (2) same-sex spouses of male peers; and what consideration they have given to the perception of discrimination in the current practice where only female spouses of male peers are granted such titles.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government notes this particular issue whereby spouses of female peers and same-sex spouses of male peers are not granted a courtesy title.
Whilst the Government is sympathetic to the principle, there are no plans for wider reform in this area. The Government is focused on delivering its manifesto commitments to reform of the House of Lords.