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 TribunalBritish ShipbuildersUnion Modernisation Fund Supervisory BoardThe Cabinet Office
Office for Civil Society Advisory BodyCommunities and Local GovernmentAdvisory Panel for the Local Innovation Awards SchemeThe Department for Communities and Local Government
National Housing and Planning Advice UnitNational Tenant VoiceStandards Board for EnglandThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Advisory Council on LibrariesLegal Deposit Advisory PanelThe Department of Energy and Climate Change
Advisory Committee on Carbon Abatement TechnologiesRenewables Advisory BoardThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Advisory Committee on Organic StandardsAgricultural Dwelling House Advisory CommitteesAgricultural Wages Board for England and WalesAgricultural Wages CommitteesAnimal Health and Welfare Strategy England Implementation GroupCommittee on Agricultural ValuationCommons CommissionersExpert Panel on Air Quality StandardsFood from BritainInland Waterways Advisory CouncilRoyal Commission on Environmental PollutionThe Department for Education
Teachers TV Board of GovernorsThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Caribbean BoardThe Ministry of Justice
Administrative Justice and Tribunals CouncilCourts boardsLegal Services OmbudsmanPublic Guardian BoardVictim’s Advisory PanelYouth Justice Board for England and WalesAnimal Welfare Advisory CommitteeThe Department for Transport
Railway Heritage CommitteeThe Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
British Nuclear Fuels LimitedCompetition ServiceCopyright TribunalDesign CouncilHearing Aid CouncilNESTARegional development agenciesBIS SITPRO LimitedStrategic Advisory Board for Intellectual PropertyWaste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Advisory BodyThe Cabinet Office
Civil Service Appeal BoardCommission for the CompactGovernment Strategic Marketing Advisory BoardMain Honours Advisory CommitteeSecurity CommissionThe Department for Communities and Local Government
Advisory Panel on Standards for the Planning InspectorateAudit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in EnglandCommunity Development FoundationFirebuyInfrastructure Planning CommissionLondon Thames Gateway Development CorporationOlympic Park Legacy Company LimitedRent Assessment Panels / Residential Property Tribunal ServiceThe Office for Tenants and Social LandlordsThurrock Development CorporationValuation Tribunal for EnglandValuation Tribunal ServiceWest Northamptonshire Development CorporationThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck SitesAdvisory Committee on National Historic ShipsAdvisory Committee on the Government Art CollectionFootball Licensing AuthorityHorserace Totalisator BoardMuseums, Libraries and Archives CouncilPublic Lending RightThe Theaters TrustUK Film CouncilThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Advisory Committee on Hazardous SubstancesAdvisory Committee on PackagingAdvisory Committee on PesticidesAir Quality Expert GroupBritish WaterwaysCommission for Rural CommunitiesDarwin Advisory CommitteeFarm Animal Welfare CouncilNational Standing Committee on Farm Animal Genetic ResourcesPesticide Residues CommitteeSpongiform Encephalopathy Advisory CommitteeVeterinary Residues CommitteeZoos ForumDepartment for Education
British Educational Communications and Technology AgencyGeneral Teaching Council for EnglandQualifications and Curriculum Development AgencySchool Food TrustThe Department of Health
Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic ProductsAdvisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated InfectionsAdvisory Committee on Borderline SubstancesAdvisory Committee on Dangerous PathogensAdvisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and OrgansAdvisory Group on HepatitisAlcohol Education and Research CouncilAppointments CommissionCommittee on Carcogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the EnvironmentCommittee on Medical Effects of Air PollutantsCommittee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the EnvironmentCommittee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the EnvironmentCommittee on the Safety of DevicesCouncil for Healthcare Regulatory ExcellenceExpert Advisory Group on AIDSGene Therapy Advisory CommitteeGeneral Social Care CouncilGenetics and Insurance CommitteeHealth Protection AgencyHerbal Medicines Advisory CommitteeHuman Fertilisation and Embryology AuthorityHuman Genetics CommissionHuman Tissue AuthorityIndependent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIVIndependent Review Panel for the Classification of Borderline ProductsIndependent Review panel on the Advertising of MedicinesJoint Committee on Vaccination and ImmunisationNational Information Governance Board for Health and Social CareNational Joint Registry Steering CommitteeScientific Advisory Committee on NutritionThe Ministry of Justice
Chief Coroner of England and Wales / Chief Coroner's OfficeCrown Court Rule CommitteeH.M. Inspectorate of Court AdministrationLegal Services CommissionMagistrates' Courts Rule CommitteeSecurity Industry AuthorityWomen's National CommissionThe Department for Transport
BRB (Residuary) Ltd.Cycling EnglandRenewable Fuels AgencyThe Department for Work and Pensions
Child Maintenance and Enforcement CommissionDisability Employment Advisory CommitteeDisability Living Allowance / Attendance Allowance Advisory BoardThe Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
OfcomCentral Arbitration CommitteeCertification OfficeCompetition CommissionOffice of Fair TradingPostcommThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Gambling CommissionNational Lottery CommissionUK SportSport EnglandThe Ministry of Justice
Advisory Committee on Justices of the PeaceAdvisory Council on Historical ManuscriptsAdvisory Council on Public RecordsCrown Prosecution ServiceRevenue and Customs Prosecutions OfficeSerious Organised Crime AgencyThe Department for Work and Pensions
Pensions OmbudsmanPensions Protection Fund OmbudsmanThe Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Engineering Construction Industry Training BoardFilm Industry Training BoardInsolvency Practitioners TribunalLocal 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 AccessStudent Loans CompanyUK Atomic Energy AuthorityUK Commission for Employment and SkillsThe Cabinet Office
Central Office of InformationNational School of GovernmentThe Leasehold Advisory ServiceThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Commission for Architecture and the Built EnvironmentThe Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Agriculture and Horticulture Development BoardAgricultural Land TribunalConsumer Council for WaterPlant Varieties and Seeds TribunalSea Fish Licence TribunalSustainable Development CommissionThe Department of Education
Children and Family Court Advisory and Support ServiceChildren's Workforce Development CouncilNational College for Leadership of Schools and Children's ServicesPartnerships for SchoolsSchool Support Staff Negotiating BodyThe Office of the Children's CommissionerTraining and Development Agency for SchoolsYoung People's Learning Agency Under considerationThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Diplomatic Service Appeals BoardForeign Compensation CommissionGreat Britain China CentreUK India Round TableThe Ministry of Justice
Advisory Panel on Public Sector InformationJudicial Appointments CommissionJudicial Appointments and Conduct OmbudsmanThe Home Office
Independent Safeguarding AuthorityOffice of the Immigration Services CommissionerPolice Advisory Board, Police Negotiating Board and Police Arbitration Tribunal