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

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 10 April (HL6032) , what is their estimate of the annual cost of each of the 26 arm's-length bodies which they have confirmed are in the process of being set up.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Departments are responsible for assessing the potential costs of proposed new bodies as part of their business case development. The Cabinet Office does not centrally estimate costs for departments’ proposals.

The government is conducting a full line-by-line Spending Review which will cover the costs of proposed and existing ALBs to ensure value for money is being delivered for the taxpayer.

On 6 April, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a full review of all arm’s length bodies to ensure their existence can be strongly justified against key principles. Any future decision to set up any new ALBs would need to demonstrate alignment with these principles and follow the joint HMT and Cabinet Office approval process for new bodies.

Found: Members present: Baroness Ashton of Upholland (The Chair); Baroness Bonham- Carter of Yarnbury; Lord Booth-Smith

Found: Members present: Baroness Ashton of Upholland (The Chair); Baroness Bonham- Carter of Yarnbury; Lord Booth-Smith

Found: meeting Members present: Lord Clement Jones (in the Chair); Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury; Lord Booth-Smith

Found: meeting Members present: Lord Clement-Jones (in the Chair); Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury; Lord Booth-Smith