Value for money and accountability - MPs question leaders of arms’ length bodies
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) will hear from two organisations representing the chairs and chief executives of several Arms’ Length Bodies (ALBs).
Meeting details
In the previous evidence session, Director of Value for Money at the National Audit Office, Sian Jones, stated that “the 10 largest ALBs in ‘23-24 received about £340 billion in funding”. The session is an opportunity to hear directly from ALB executives about the current state of policy and practice surrounding public bodies.
The Committee is likely to explore whether sponsor departments have sufficient oversight of ALBs, and how they balance being independent from government while staying responsive to government priorities.
MPs may also ask why, despite successive governments promising to reduce the number of ALBs, they continue to create new ones. Witnesses may be asked for their perspective on ‘mission creep’, when an organisation expands its activities beyond its original remit.
Other topics which may be discussed include the criteria used to review public bodies and whether the review process is fit for purpose.