Editing Non-departmental public body (section)

==Criticism==
{{see also|2010 UK quango reforms}}

Critics argued that the system was open to abuse as most NDPBs had their members directly appointed by [[government minister]]s without an election or consultation with the people. The [[UK press|press]], critical of what was perceived as the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives']] complacency in power in the 1990s, presented much material interpreted as evidence of questionable government practices.

This concern led to the formation of a [[Committee on Standards in Public Life]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.public-standards.gov.uk/ |title=Committee on Standards in Public Life |publisher=Public-standards.gov.uk |access-date=2014-04-01}}</ref> (the Nolan Committee) which first reported in 1995 and recommended the creation of a "public appointments commissioner" to make sure that appropriate standards were met in the appointment of members of NDPBs.  The Government accepted the recommendation, and the [[Commissioner for Public Appointments|Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://publicappointmentscommissioner.org/|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081209182758/http://publicappointmentscommissioner.org/|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 December 2008|title=Homepage|first=sapere audemus|last=Limited|website=webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk|access-date=19 March 2018}}</ref> was established in November 1995.

While in opposition, the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] promised to reduce the number and power of NDPBs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtcp.co.uk/2002series/show5.html |title=Mark Thomas story on Quangos |date=2002-12-12 |access-date=2014-04-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704075110/http://www.mtcp.co.uk/2002series/show5.html |archive-date=July 4, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4255709.stm |title=UK's 'useless' quangos under fire |work=BBC News |date=11 February 2005 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref> The use of NDPBs continued under the Labour government in office from 1997 to 2010, though the political controversy associated with NDPBs in the mid-1990s for the most part died away.

In 2010 the UK's Conservative-Liberal coalition published a review of NDPBs recommending closure or merger of nearly two hundred bodies, and the transfer of others to the private sector.<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101125071349/http://download.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ndpb/public-bodies-list.pdf List of NDPBs], [[Cabinet Office]] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107190257/http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101125071349/http://download.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/ndpb/public-bodies-list.pdf |date=November 7, 2014 }}</ref> This process was colloquially termed the "bonfire of the quangos".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/bonfire-of-the-quangos-promised |title='Bonfire of the quangos' revealed |work=[[Channel 4 News]] |date=14 October 2010 |access-date=10 September 2014}}</ref>