MEP Says "Quash A Quango" As Figures Show Massive Increase

6.16.29pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 16th Feb 2005

Hampshire MEP and Eastleigh prospective parliamentary candidate Chris Huhne said it was time for a "Quash a Quango" campaign after new figures showed that the Government had set up another 111 new quangos.

The UK has a total of 529 quangos - quasi-autonomous national governmental organisations - financed with billions of pounds of taxpayers' cash - many of which are useless or duplicate each other's efforts, a report claims.

Essential Guide to British Quangos 2005 author Dan Lewis said at least 111 of the appointed bodies had been set up since 1997.

"I thoroughly welcome this exposure of Britain's quango state. For over two decades, under both Tory and Labour Governments, these unaccountable agencies have mushroomed. Liberal Democrats would abolish many, merge others, and make any that remain properly accountable. Labour promised a bonfire of the quangos, but instead delivered an explosion" said Mr Huhne.

The Hampshire MEP backed calls by the author of the new report for a limit on the number of quangos that could be set up by any individual government department.