Following the 2010 United Kingdom general election, the UK Government announced plans to curb public spending through the abolition of a large number of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations (quangos). On 23 May 2010, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne unveiled a £500million plan to reduce the budget deficit by abolishing or merging many quangos. This was styled in the national press as a "bonfire of the quangos", making reference to Girolamo Savonarola's religiously inspired Bonfire of the Vanities ("falò delle vanità"). The cuts and closures received criticism in some quarters, but was generally welcomed by the business community.
On 14 October, the government released a document entitled Public Bodies Reform –– Proposals for Change outlining plans for each quango. The document broadly classified each quango into one of four groups, viz. –
Retain - the government thought it expedient to retain the organisation;
Merge - the organisation would be merged with another organ of state or its function could be replicated by a third sector organisation;
Abolish - the organisation would be abolished;
Under consideration - firm plans were not drawn up for organisations in this category, but deadlines were set for complete consideration.
The document also contained a description of which ministry of state or government department the organisation was part of.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Arbitration Tribunal
British Shipbuilders
Union Modernisation Fund Supervisory Board
The Cabinet Office
Office for Civil Society Advisory Body
Communities and Local Government
Advisory Panel for the Local Innovation Awards Scheme
The Department for Communities and Local Government
National Housing and Planning Advice Unit
National Tenant Voice
Standards Board for England
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Advisory Council on Libraries
Legal Deposit Advisory Panel
The Department of Energy and Climate Change
Advisory Committee on Carbon Abatement Technologies
Renewables Advisory Board
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Advisory Committee on Organic Standards
Agricultural Dwelling House Advisory Committees
Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales
Agricultural Wages Committees
Animal Health and Welfare Strategy England Implementation Group
Committee on Agricultural Valuation
Commons Commissioners
Expert Panel on Air Quality Standards
Food from Britain
Inland Waterways Advisory Council
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution
The Department for Education
Teachers TV Board of Governors
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Caribbean Board
The Ministry of Justice
Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council
Courts boards
Legal Services Ombudsman
Public Guardian Board
Victim’s Advisory Panel
Youth Justice Board for England and Wales
Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
The Department for Transport
Railway Heritage Committee
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
British Nuclear Fuels Limited
Competition Service
Copyright Tribunal
Design Council
Hearing Aid Council
NESTA
Regional development agencies
BIS SITPRO Limited
Strategic Advisory Board for Intellectual Property
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Advisory Body
The Cabinet Office
Civil Service Appeal Board
Commission for the Compact
Government Strategic Marketing Advisory Board
Main Honours Advisory Committee
Security Commission
The Department for Communities and Local Government
Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning Inspectorate
Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England
Community Development Foundation
Firebuy
Infrastructure Planning Commission
London Thames Gateway Development Corporation
Olympic Park Legacy Company Limited
Rent Assessment Panels / Residential Property Tribunal Service
The Office for Tenants and Social Landlords
Thurrock Development Corporation
Valuation Tribunal for England
Valuation Tribunal Service
West Northamptonshire Development Corporation
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites
Advisory Committee on National Historic Ships
Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection
Football Licensing Authority
Horserace Totalisator Board
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Public Lending Right
The Theaters Trust
UK Film Council
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances
Advisory Committee on Packaging
Advisory Committee on Pesticides
Air Quality Expert Group
British Waterways
Commission for Rural Communities
Darwin Advisory Committee
Farm Animal Welfare Council
National Standing Committee on Farm Animal Genetic Resources
Pesticide Residues Committee
Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
Veterinary Residues Committee
Zoos Forum
Department for Education
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency
General Teaching Council for England
Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency
School Food Trust
The Department of Health
Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products
Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections
Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances
Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs
Advisory Group on Hepatitis
Alcohol Education and Research Council
Appointments Commission
Committee on Carcogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants
Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment
Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment
Committee on the Safety of Devices
Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence
Expert Advisory Group on AIDS
Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
General Social Care Council
Genetics and Insurance Committee
Health Protection Agency
Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Human Genetics Commission
Human Tissue Authority
Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV
Independent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline Products
Independent Review panel on the Advertising of Medicines
Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
National Information Governance Board for Health and Social Care
National Joint Registry Steering Committee
Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
The Ministry of Justice
Chief Coroner of England and Wales / Chief Coroner's Office
Crown Court Rule Committee
H.M. Inspectorate of Court Administration
Legal Services Commission
Magistrates' Courts Rule Committee
Security Industry Authority
Women's National Commission
The Department for Transport
BRB (Residuary) Ltd.
Cycling England
Renewable Fuels Agency
The Department for Work and Pensions
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission
Disability Employment Advisory Committee
Disability Living Allowance / Attendance Allowance Advisory Board
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Ofcom
Central Arbitration Committee
Certification Office
Competition Commission
Office of Fair Trading
Postcomm
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Gambling Commission
National Lottery Commission
UK Sport
Sport England
The Ministry of Justice
Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace
Advisory Council on Historical Manuscripts
Advisory Council on Public Records
Crown Prosecution Service
Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office
Serious Organised Crime Agency
The Department for Work and Pensions
Pensions Ombudsman
Pensions Protection Fund Ombudsman
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Engineering Construction Industry Training Board
Film Industry Training Board
Insolvency Practitioners Tribunal
Local Better Regulation Office - dissolved on 1 April 2012, its functions taken over by the Better Regulation Delivery Office, an independent unit within the BIS.
Office for Fair Access
Student Loans Company
UK Atomic Energy Authority
UK Commission for Employment and Skills
The Cabinet Office
Central Office of Information
National School of Government
The Leasehold Advisory Service
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Agricultural Land Tribunal
Consumer Council for Water
Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal
Sea Fish Licence Tribunal
Sustainable Development Commission
The Department of Education
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
Children's Workforce Development Council
National College for Leadership of Schools and Children's Services
Partnerships for Schools
School Support Staff Negotiating Body
The Office of the Children's Commissioner
Training and Development Agency for Schools
Young People's Learning Agency Under consideration
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Diplomatic Service Appeals Board
Foreign Compensation Commission
Great Britain China Centre
UK India Round Table
The Ministry of Justice
Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information
Judicial Appointments Commission
Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman
The Home Office
Independent Safeguarding Authority
Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
Police Advisory Board, Police Negotiating Board and Police Arbitration Tribunal
