The blog will focus in particular on the Public Bodies Bill and will follow the Bill through to its enactment and implementation whilst commenting on related legal and policy developments over the coming months. It is being written from a non-partisan stance and, insofar as it contains criticism of what is proposed, is intended to do so from the point of view of a detached observer. Whilst the blog appears in my name, it is being written with the assistance of colleagues here and I happily acknowledge their considerable help in what is very much a collective effort.
This is entry No.49, first published on 14 December 2011, of a blog on public bodies reform. Click here to view the whole blog. If you would like to be notified when the blog is updated, with links sent by email, click here.
The Public Bodies Bill received Royal Assent today, just a shadow of the Bill introduced to the Lords on 28 October 2010 but nevertheless one which is likely to lead to some profound changes to numerous governmental bodies and the functions which they perform.
Public bodies which remain on death row, in terms of being subject to abolition by order under the Act, include the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, Agricultural Wages Boards, the Commission for Rural Communities, Consumer Focus, English Environmental Protection Advisory Committees, Food from Britain and the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.
The OFT and the Competition Commission are amongst those still capable of being merged by order under the Act whilst those liable to have functions transferred by order include the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council, British Waterways, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights, Dover Harbour Board, the Environment Agency and Internal Drainage Boards, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the OFT.
RDAs are dealt with more perfunctorily, the Act providing that they are abolished, as from a day to be appointed.
With the exception of the provision for RDAs, and some consultation, procedural and ancillary provisions which come into force immediately, the Act comes into force in 2 months. So something else to look forward to on Valentines Day.
As previously reported, a procedural motion is being moved in the Commons today. the text of this as now published is as follows:
That the following new Standing Order be made-
'(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the select committee charged with reporting on a draft order for the purposes of section 11(5) and (6) of the Public Bodies Act 2011 shall be-
(a) the select committee appointed under Standing Order No. 152 (Select Committees related to Government departments) appointed to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department of the Minister who has laid the draft order, or
(b) in respect of a draft order laid by a Minister in the Cabinet Office, the Select Committee on Public Administration.
(2) The Liaison Committee may report that it has designated a select committee appointed under Standing Order No. 152 (Select committees related to Government departments) or the Select Committee on Public Administration as either-
(a) an additional select committee charged with reporting on a specified draft order for the purposes of section 11(5) and (6) of the Public Bodies Act 2011, or
(b) the select committee charged with reporting on a specified draft order for the purposes of section 11(5) and (6) of the Public Bodies Act 2011 in place of the select committee to which paragraph (1) applies.'.
This blog itself will soon be abolished but registered readers will be sent the final blog entries and also a summary of what to expect under the Act.
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