New quango to check on quangos

The Government admitted today that it cannot keep track of the numerous task forces, steering groups, reviews and quangos it has created.

Then MPs learned that a new body has been set up - to review the work of quangos.

Pam Alexander, former chief executive of English Heritage, is to head a review of public bodies, to look at why more of their members are not women or members from ethnic minorities.

The news came from the Commons as an annual report from the Cabinet Office, headed by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, revealed that Tony Blair now has an ocean of different groups advising his ministers - 48 task forces, 240 ad hoc advisory groups, 71 reviews and more than 1,000 permanent quangos. However, the Cabinet Office was unable to say whether the number of temporary groups such as task forces had gone up or down over the past four years. Nor was it able to give any idea of the cost involved.

The organisations, comprised of civil servants, senior business people and charity figures, advise the Government over everything from regional museums to nanotechnology. Ministers claim to have cut the number of permanent quangos by 93 in four years, to 1,035.

But Opposition MPs say Labour has created a plethora of largely unaccountable groups, and made the machinery of government more unworkable.

The report shows the existence of a task force on tackling potentially hazardous near-Earth objects; a car servicing and repairs task force, and even a gifted and talented advisory group.

Mark Oaten, Lib-Dem spokesman for the Cabinet Office said the number of quangos threatens the Prime Minister's pledge to have "joined-up" government. He was concerned about their lack of accountability. They do not have to meet the standards of the rest of government because they are seen as temporary bodies.

More than 100 of the groups have existed for more than two years, which goes against the recommendation of the Government's own Standards Commissioner that they should be wound up by that stage. However, Christopher Leslie, junior Cabinet Office minister, praised the vital role of quangos in supplying services and advising the Government.

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