Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 9-10WS, on the public bodies reform programme, what estimate she has made of the savings to her Department net of costs incurred in the assumption of additional departmental responsibilities to accrue from (a) the abolition of three public bodies within her Department's area of responsibility and (b) the merger of two such bodies.
Answer
[holding answer 21 March 2011]: The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Mr Maude) issued a written ministerial statement on 16 March 2011, Official Report, columns 9-10WS, 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.Overall administrative reductions from reform of all Home Office non-departmental public bodies are estimated to be £94 million over the spending review period. This figure is based on current planning assumptions.The Home Office is not yet in a position to estimate net overall administrative savings from structural reforms. The main structural reform will be the creation of the National Crime Agency. The Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) will publish a statement shortly about how the National Crime Agency will operate.