Asked by: Lord Booth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 20 March (HL5765), which arm's-length bodies are in the process of being set up, and what estimate they have made of the annual cost of each.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Cabinet Office considers an ALB to be in the process of being set up when we have either received a business case for a proposed new body, or the proposal has been allowed to seek approval retrospectively. We then conduct a detailed process to ensure there is sufficient due diligence to establish a clear rationale for a proposed new body. The following bodies are in the process of being set up: There are currently 26 proposed public bodies, which are as follows:
Skills England
Armed Forces Commissioner
Infected Blood Compensation Authority
NISTA
Fair Work Agency
Industrial Strategy Council
Independent Football Regulator
Great British Energy - NDPB
School Support Staff Negotiating Body
National Data Library
Regulatory Innovation Office
National Wealth Fund - NMD
Anti-Money Laundering Supervision Reform Body
Technical Advisory Panel
"Project Seahorse"
Border Security Command
Passenger Standards Authority
National Care Service
National Centre of Policing
Ethics and Integrity Commission
Building Standards Regulatory Body
AI Regulation Body
Adult Social Care Negotiating Body
Local Audit Office
Office of Product Standards and Safety
Tax Advisory Body - Advisory NDPB
Animal Welfare Advisory Body
Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme (HNTAS)
Ploughshare
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.