Quangos must prove money is spent wisely
EVERY unelected quango will have to prove it is spending public money wisely and accountable to voters, David Cameron said yesterday.
The Tory leader will order a review of all government agencies and external bodies if he becomes Prime Minister, threatening to axe some and overhaul others.
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Signalling what has been dubbed a "bonfire of quangos", Mr Cameron said there could be more than 1,000 such bodies operating in Britain today.
He said: "This growth in the number of quangos, and in the scope of their influence, raises important questions for our democracy and politics.
"Questions about public spending control – now vital in the light of the debt crisis and questions relating to the effectiveness of politics in addressing the key social problems that give people such great concern.
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"Too many state actions, services and decisions are carried out by people who cannot be voted out by the public, by organisations that feel no pressure to answer for what happens – in a way that is completely unaccountable."
He singled out the Rural Payments Agency which had "driven farmers mad" when the allocation of farming subsidies ground to a halt in 2005.
Thousands of farmers were pushed to the brink when payments which were planned into budgets failed to appear when the system went into freefall. Ministers repeatedly blamed the system, which critics said had been too ambitious.
Mr Cameron said the RPA and quangos like it were part of the culture that means "so many people feel that nothing ever changes, nothing will ever get done and that government's automatic response to any problem is to pass the buck and send people from pillar to post until they just give up in exasperated fury".
He added that too often, when ministers are challenged over the failings of quangos, "the answer is pretty much a 'not me guv' shrug of the shoulders".
"There is a serious accountability problem with our political system," he said.
"Any serious programme aimed at redistributing power from the political elite must address the role of quangos in creating this accountability problem and must include a serious plan to reform them."
Mr Cameron announced communications regulator Ofcom will cease to exist "as we know it" with its policy-making functions it has transferred back to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
However Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw, the MP for Exeter, said the Tory leader had "misunderstood" Ofcom's role. "It is not to make policy decisions, but to provide advice," Mr Bradshaw said. "Ministers make policy decisions, so exactly what potential savings the Tories are claiming is open to doubt."
The Local Government Association agreed it was time for a "radical overhaul of the quango state".
However, Labour's Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne said the Conservatives had committed themselves to creating 17 new quangos if they came to power.
One of the Westcountry's most powerful – and biggest spending – quangos, the Regional Development Agency, is already facing an uncertain future under a Tory government.
The demise of the South West Regional Development Agency as it currently operates has been hinted at by senior Conservatives for several months.
The party is committed to repealing the laws which gives the RDA its powers, and leave it up to councils to decide if the body should continue and in what form.
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by Derek Elliott, Hayle
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 9:43AM
“So David Cameron says there 'could be' more than 1,000 quangos operating in Britain. Well he should know, and probably does, that there are 1,162 quangos, 469 Local authorities, and 432 NHS Trusts all acting as 'unseen governments' and costing the tax payer money, not to forget the 36 EU agencies with responsibilities to the UK. The 1,162 quangos employ 714,430 staff at an estimated cost to the taxpayer of £63.5 million. No government office keeps a complete public record of these bodies!! Our government employs just under 6 million people and has an annual expenditure of almost £600 billion. No minister, or anyone else, could have sufficient knowledge to agree the objectives, plans, and budgets for any government department. Not only are we paying for this but all of our public services are failing: Education - Four out of ten pupils in state education now leave school without the minimum standards and year on year results show British educational standards fall in comparison to other wealthy countries. Health - If Britain matched the performance of European peers 17,157 deaths amenable to healthcare would have been avoided and levels of hospital acquired infections are amongst the highest in Europe whilst waiting times continue to force people abroad for treatment. Welfare - Complex system of tax credits, allowances and income support has created a welfare trap, and Mr. Cameron doesn't know?”
by a g rawlings, truro
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:31PM
“Oh well St David, sorry I'm not misbehaving.”
by a g rawlings, truro
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:27PM
“Thank you Mr Brown, that sums you up.”
by David St Hubbins, Tour Bus
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:24PM
“Boys, boys boys, play nicely. Remember: arguing on the Internet is like winning a hot dog eating competition. Even if you win you still look ridiculous.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:20PM
“:| AG I am never abusive. . And I will NEVER be answering any of your stupid questions. .See a Doctor. . Goodnight..”
by Justin, Cornwall
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:17PM
“The same old tosh from the man in Somersetshire. All this proves one thing Charles,AG provides the questions that deserve a decent answer to them. You have an inability to answer any of AG's solid questions about our de-industrialized and deliberately undeveloped economy. Your ignorant and arrogant mind set says it all Charles. . .you never learn and certainly will NEVER change now.”
by a g rawlings, truro
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:12PM
“Answer the questions? What jobs? And do not get abusive because you cannot answer questions.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 9:04PM
“:| Stop talking rubbish AG. . I have never once claimed a fancy education. . But because I am coherent and conversant on certain subjects you have an inferiority complex. . Get over it AG; please. . I am assertive about things I have knowledge of. . That is all. . You just keep prattling on about some failing protectionist Union called the EU that will in the end undoubtedly fail. . Protectionism always fails in the end. . That is why, despite the world recession, The US is and will remain the Superpower.”
by a g rawlings, truro
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:56PM
“By the way know it all, what success are you referring to? British jobs or Far East Jobs?”
by a g rawlings, truro
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:51PM
“What schooling did you have when you are unable to answer questions put to you? You class yourself better educated than us, so why such an answer to give. Why don't you keep to your Christian faith and answer people honestly?
Read your reply, Mr CH, where is the answers? Surely it is simple to tell us what jobs you are going to create to stop people you hate getting dole money. As for hiding, I have offered you an open debate sometime ago about jobs, and Europe a nation, as usal nothing. Tell us all what jobs are your Tory and UKIP going to create?”