quango - History of the term, Republic of Ireland

A shortened form of the term quasi-non-governmental organization, a type of organization which became common in the USA, being established by the private sector but largely or entirely financed by the federal government. In the UK the term has been applied to non-departmental bodies (the exact definition varies) that are neither part of a central government department nor part of local government, such as the Monopolies Commission. Many are merely advisory bodies, but a number do have important regulatory functions (eg the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency). In the late 1970s there was increasing concern about these bodies because of their lack of accountability, their cost, and their use as a source of patronage. The concern declined, but quangos did not, and the number grew again in the 1980s and 1990s.

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The acronyms Qango and Quango, variously spelt out as QUAsi Non Governmental Organisation, Quasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organisation, and Quasi-Autonomous National Government Organisation have been used, notably in the United Kingdom, but also in Australia, Ireland and other countries, to describe a range of organisations to which governments have devolved power.

History of the term

The term originated as a humorous shortening of Quasi-NGO, that is, an ostensibly non-governmental organisation which performs governmental functions, often with government funding or other support There are many such organisations.

The UK government's definition of a non-departmental public body or quango in 1997 was:

"A body which has a role in the processes of national government, but is not a government department or part of one, and which accordingly operates to a greater or lesser extent at arm's length from Ministers."

List of Quangos by Government Department

Cabinet Office

Central Sponsor for Information Assurance Centre for Management and Policy Studies Office of Public Services Reform Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit Strategy Unit

Department of Constitutional Affairs

Council on Tribunals HM Magistrates Court Inspectorate The Regional Sports Boards and their associated offices (East, East Midlands, London, North East, North West, South East, South West, West, Yorkshire)

Department for Education and Skills

Learning and Skills Council (Britan's largest QUANGO) The regional sports bodies of Sport England Implementation Review Unit Office for Fair Access Union Learning Fund Adult Learning Inspectorate National College for School Leadership

Department for Transport

Commission for Integrated Transport Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency Driving Standards Agency Vehicle and Operator Services Agency Vehicle Certification Authority

Department of Work and Pensions

Jobcentre Plus Disability Rights Commission

Treasury

Business Advisory Group on Economic and Monetary Union Standing Committee on Euro Preparations

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Wilton Park

Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Agricultural Wages Board for England & Wales Agricultural Wages Committees for England Hill Farming Advisory Committee for England, Wales and Northern Ireland Covent Garden Market Authority Rural Payments Agency Advisory Committee on Pesticides Committee on Agricultural Valuation Forest Enterprise England Joint Nature Conservation Committee National Forest Company Pesticide Residue Committee Pesticide Safety Directorate Veterinary Medicines Directorate Veterinary Products Committee Veterinary Residues Committee

Department of Health

Strategic Health Authorities NHS Estates NHS Logistics Authority Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health Dental Practices Board Dental Vocational Training Authority Family Health Services Special Health Authority General Social Care Council Health Development Agency Human Fertility and Embryology Authority Human Tissue Authority Mental Health Act Commission National Biological Standards Board National Blood Authority National Clinical Assessment Authority National Patient Safety Agency National Radiological Protection Board NHS Counter Fraud & Security Management NHS Information Authority NHS Modernisation Agency NHS Pensions Agency Administers NHS Professionals NHS University Prescription Pricing Authority UK Transplant Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food Beef Assurance Scheme Membership Panel Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment Consumer Committee Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals Meat Hygiene Service

Department for Trade and Industry

Industrial Development Advisory Board National Policy Forum for Start-ups Regional Industrial Development Boards (East of England, London & South East, North East, North West, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire & East Midlands) Broadband Stakeholder Group Small Business Service

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency Army Base Repair Organisation Engineering service Defence Aviation Repair Agency Defence Bills Agency Defence Storage & Personnel Agency Warship Support Agency

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Government Office for London Standards Board for England Regional Assemblies (East of England, East Midlands, North East, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire & the Humber) Regional Housing Boards (East of England, East Midlands, North East, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire & the Humber) Regional Observatories (East of England Observatory, East Midlands Observatory, North East Regional Information Partnership, North West Regional Intelligence Unit, South East England Intelligence Network, South West, West Midlands, Yorkshire Futures)

Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland has more than 800 quangos — 482 at national level and 350 at local level.