The UK government is reportedly considering scrapping or merging over 300 agencies, part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer's broader initiative to reduce public sector costs.
Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden has requested that government departments justify the continued existence of every quango (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization). McFadden is expected to announce the first round of agencies to be cut or merged in the near future, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.
This move is part of Starmer’s ongoing drive to curb wasteful public spending and overhaul the structure of the state. Recent steps in this reform process include plans to abolish NHS England and merge the Payment Systems Regulator with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Additionally, the government intends to cancel thousands of credit cards issued to civil servants, reflecting a broader effort to streamline government expenditures, similar to the cost-cutting approach seen in the US under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The push for cuts comes in response to the UK's strained public finances and lackluster economic growth projections. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves recently unveiled a £14 billion package of cuts aimed at welfare and government departments, announced in last month’s spring fiscal statement. These measures, which are politically contentious, underscore the government's focus on reducing the fiscal deficit amid ongoing economic challenges.
As the government continues its review, further restructuring and cost-cutting initiatives are expected to follow, potentially reshaping the landscape of the UK's public sector.
By Vafa Guliyeva
Source: caliber.az
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