Select Committee · Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Public Bodies
Status: Open
Opened: 13 Dec 2024
Inquiry scope
Governments have created Public Bodies when it is felt that certain functions are best conducted outside the normal departmental structures and at some distance from direct ministerial control. There are currently around 500, though classification can be vague. They vary hugely in terms of their size, governance arrangements, and the types of roles they perform. They are ‘owned’ by their sponsoring department but subject to Cabinet Office and HM Treasury guidance. This states that that they should only be created and continue to operate as a last resort and when: A Public Body is required to perform a highly technical function It is required to perform activities that require political impartiality It needs to act independently to establish facts However, new ones continue to be created: the Government has launched several in its first months and plans for others have been announced. Read the call for evidence for more detail about the inquiry.Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Mar 2026 | The Rt Hon. the Lord Maude of Horsham | View ↗ |
| 6 Jan 2026 | Joe Hill · University of Birmingham Guild of Students | View ↗ |
| 4 Nov 2025 | Adrian Smith OBE · Association of Chief Executives, Elysia McCaffrey · Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), Keith Fraser · Public Chairs’ Forum, Ruth Glazzard · Public Chairs’ Forum | View ↗ |
| 21 Oct 2025 | Sian Jones · National Audit Office | View ↗ |
| 3 Jun 2025 | Adrian Smith OBE · Association of Chief Executives, Sally Cheshire CBE · CAFCASS | View ↗ |
| 7 May 2025 | Matthew Gill · Institute for Government | View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Adrian Smith OBE · Chair | Association of Chief Executives | 2 |
| Elysia McCaffrey · Chief Executive | Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) | 1 |
| Joe Hill · Education Officer | University of Birmingham Guild of Students | 1 |
| Keith Fraser · Chair | Public Chairs’ Forum | 1 |
| Matthew Gill · Programme Director | Institute for Government | 1 |
| Ruth Glazzard · Board Member | Public Chairs’ Forum | 1 |
| Sally Cheshire CBE · Chair | CAFCASS | 1 |
| Sian Jones · Director, Value for Money | National Audit Office | 1 |
| The Rt Hon. the Lord Maude of Horsham | — | 1 |