Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Gregory Campbell Excerpts
Wednesday 12th March 2014

(10 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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A major part of the programme of public bodies reform has been bringing policy functions back to the Government in a way that provides direct accountability to Parliament through Ministers. That is a big part of increasing accountability, but the secondary purpose of the reform of public bodies has been to save money, and I am glad to say that it looks as though the savings will, if anything, exceed our expectations.

Gregory Campbell Portrait Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)
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The Minister has told us about the reduction in the number of quangos. Will he now tell us what progress is being made in increasing the cost-effectiveness of those that remain?

Lord Maude of Horsham Portrait Mr Maude
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That is a continuing process. There is much more to be done to increase efficiency. As I have said, we saved more than £10 billion across central Government last year, and we expect the saving to exceed £13 billion in the current financial year, which will end this month. There is much more to be done on quango reform, but as I have said, we expect to save £900 million a year, and have already saved about £1.6 billion.