Overview

This bill mandates a government review of all Arm's-Length Bodies (ALBs) existing on July 4th, 2024. The reviews must be completed and published within four years of the bill's passage, assessing their functions, effectiveness, finances, and staffing.

Description

The Arm's-Length Bodies (Review) Bill requires a comprehensive review of all Executive Agencies, Non-Departmental Public Bodies, and Non-Ministerial Departments that existed on July 4th, 2024. Each review must include:

• Function Assessment: A description of each ALB's functions (statutory and non-statutory), assessing their necessity.
• Effectiveness Evaluation: An assessment of how effectively each ALB performs its functions.
• Financial Analysis: Financial statements, including annual operating expenditure, and an assessment of value for money.
• Staffing Breakdown: The number of staff at various civil service grade levels (or equivalents) within each ALB.

The Secretary of State has the power to adjust the definition of a "qualifying body" via statutory instrument, subject to approval by the House of Commons.

Government Spending

The bill itself doesn't directly specify government spending. However, the cost of conducting the reviews, analyzing the data, and publishing the results will represent an additional expenditure for the government. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The bill will directly affect:

• Arm's-Length Bodies (ALBs): They will undergo reviews, potentially leading to changes in their operations, funding, or even abolition if deemed unnecessary or ineffective.
• Government Departments: Responsible for commissioning and overseeing the reviews, leading to increased workload and potential resource allocation challenges.
• Parliament: Will receive and scrutinize the review reports.
• The Public: Will benefit from increased transparency and accountability in how public money is utilized by ALBs.

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