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Department of Health: Arm's-length Bodies

Volume 712: debated on Wednesday 15 July 2009

Question

Asked by

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Department of Health has reduced the number of arm's-length bodies to 20, as proposed in the 2004 review Reconfiguring the Department of Health's Arm's-Length Bodies; which arm's length bodies are involved in health and social care (under the review's definition of such bodies); and what their total expenditure was in 2008–09 (in 2003–04 prices). [HL4763]

Following the review of the department's arm’s-length bodies (ALBs), the number of pre-existing ALBs has been reduced from 38 in 2004 to 20 in 2009. Subsequent to the review, responsibility for one ALB (the Alcohol Education and Research Council) has transferred to the Department of Health from the Home Office, raising the current number of ALBs to 21. All of these ALBs have roles in the health and social care system.

In 2008-09 there were 24 ALBs as the transfer of three ALBs into the new Care Quality Commission, and the merger of the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control into the Health Protection Agency, took place on 1 April 2009. Total ALB revenue expenditure funded by the department in 2008-09 (also in 2003-04 prices) is summarised in the following table:

Arm’s-Length Body

Department Funding £m

Restated at 2003-04 Prices £m

Commission for Social Care Inspection

106

94

Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence

2

2

General Social Care Council

11

10

Health and Social Care Information Centre

38

34

Health Protection Agency

176

155

Healthcare Commission

66

59

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

4

3

Human Tissue Authority

1

1

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority

11

10

Mental Health Act Commission

6

5

Monitor (Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts)

13

11

National Institute for Biological Standards and Controls

19

16

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

34

30

National Patient Safety Agency

28

25

National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse

12

10

NHS Appointments Commission

4

4

NHS Blood and Transplant

83

74

NHS Business Services Authority

140

124

NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement

81

71

NHS Litigation Authority

1

0

NHS Professionals

10

9

NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency

45

40

Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board

2

2

2008-09 department revenue funding for ALBs

893

789

Other ALB-related expenditure

3

3

Total 2008-09 department funded ALB revenue expenditure

896

792

Notes:

2003-04 prices quoted are calculated using the GDP Deflator at market prices issued by ONS, as at 30 June 2009.