Shrinking the quango state: five challenges in reforming quangos

Abstract

Some problems of governance regularly resurface, and the use and role of ‘quangos’— public bodies operating at arm's-length to ministers—is a case in point. The administrative history of the British state is littered with official reviews and political debates about quangos. Historically, governments, whatever their reforming zeal, have found it difficult to make substantial changes. Now the UK government has initiated a rapid and large-scale set of reforms. This article analyses these changes and highlights five challenges for governments wishing to reform arm's-length bodies: mapping, assessing, reconfiguring, saving, and accounting.

Keywords:

• Arm's length
• coalition
• government
• quango
• reform

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of ESRC Grant Ref. ES/J010553/1 ‘Shrinking the state: reforming arm's length bodies’, and Nuffield Foundation Small Grant ‘Political commitment to quango reform’. Follow the debate at: www.shrinkingthestate.org. Additional research support was provided by Alexander Parker.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew Flinders

Matthew Flinders is Professor of Parliamentary Government and Governance in the Department of Politics, University of Sheffield, UK.

Chris Skelcher

Chris Skelcher is Professor of Public Governance, University of Birmingham, UK.