QUASI-AUTONOMOUS NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

Early day motion 943, tabled 18 February 2008 by Bob Russell (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 36 members.

That this House notes with alarm that quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations (quangos) are now responsible for 21 per cent. of public expenditure, spending £123 billion a year, representing 40 per cent. more than the total expenditure of local government; further notes that this represents £2,000 a year per head of the population; deplores the lack of democratic involvement and accountability which quangos have, particularly those covering such vital public areas as health, police, fire and ambulance services as well as education and the arts; believes that there is no place in a modern democracy for so many decisions to be made in the name of the public by those who have no democratic mandate and accountability; welcomes the report on quangos by the New Local Government Network; and calls on the Government to come forward with proposals to transfer the current powers of quangos to bodies which are democratic and publicly accountable.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 17, Labour 12, Conservative 3, DUP 2, Independent 2.