Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 9-10WS, on the public bodies reform programme, what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department net of costs incurred of the assumption of additional departmental responsibilities to accrue from (a) the abolition of three public bodies within his Department's area of responsibility and (b) the change in function of two such bodies.
Answer
On 16 March 2011 the Minister for the Cabinet Office issued a written ministerial statement updating Parliament on progress on public bodies reform. That statement also announced that Departments estimate cumulative administrative savings of at least £2.6 billion will flow from public bodies over the spending review period.I anticipate net overall administrative savings from structural reforms to the Foreign and Commonwealth public bodies over the spending review period of £30,000. Overall administrative reductions from reform of all Foreign and Commonwealth departmental public bodies are estimated to be £275,000 over the spending review period.