Public bodies and appointments

The Cabinet Office provides advice and guidance on the creation, organisation and management of public bodies and on appointments to their boards.

The Cabinet Office publishes a list of all non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) annually, together with information on their staffing, funding and expenditure. We also provide statistical information on public appointments.

The Cabinet Office maintains a list of all ministerial government departments, non-ministerial government departments and executive agencies.

Find out more

The Cabinet Office produces a range of guidance for government departments relating to public bodies.

• Public bodies reform - Proposals for change information
  This includes the Plans to substantially reform a large number of Public Bodies across government and includes the following documentation: 
  • Public Bodies Reform: Checklist for Departments
    An implementation checklist to support Departments and Public Bodies in implementing reform
  • Outline of Triennial Review Process
    A summary of the Government’s proposed approach to future review and reform of public bodies
  • Rules on Lobbying for Public Bodies
    New rules to restrict the lobbying of Government by public-funded bodies
• NDPBs and Lobbying
• Executive Agencies: A Guide for Departments [external website]
  sets out the policy framework on the creation and abolition of executive agencies
• Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments [external website]
  provides detailed guidance to departments on establishing new NDPBs
• Making and Managing Public Appointments [external website]
  provides advice and guidance to all those involved in making public appointments, including examples of good practice
• Public Bodies report

Government response to Public Administration Select Committee

The Government’s overall approach to public bodies reform is set out in the response to the Public Administration Select Committee report “Smaller Government: Shrinking the Quango State” published on 16 March 2011