Public Bodies Review Programme

These documents provide guidance for organisations that are reviewing public bodies under the Public Bodies Review Programme.

The bodies in scope of this guidance are:

• non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)
• executive agencies (EAs)
• non-ministerial departments (NMDs)

The guidance is built on lessons learnt from previous review programmes. New public body reviews will be underpinned by:

• broad minimum requirements covering efficiency, efficacy, accountability and governance
• a pool of lead independent reviewers to ensure objectivity
• a new self-assessment model so that precious resources are not wasted reviewing healthy bodies

The guidance has been developed with the understanding that the ALB landscape is varied. Departments will lead these reviews and should take a risk-based and change-based approach to their prioritisation of public body reviews.

While the tools and guidance must be applied in respect of administratively classified ALBs, departments should also apply it in respect of central government public bodies that have not been administratively classified but which share many of the characteristics of ALBs.

The guidance contributes towards the government meeting Action 24 from the Declaration on Government Reform to:

“Commence a review programme for Arm’s Length Bodies and increase the effectiveness of their departmental sponsorship, underpinned by clear performance metrics and rigorous new governance and sponsorship standards.’’

The review programme and associated guidance delivers against the commitments made in the Declaration on Government Reform to increase both the effectiveness of Arm’s Length Bodies and departmental sponsorship, making government work better in service of citizens.

The Public Bodies Reform Programme acknowledges that the tools and guidance provided will need development as we learn lessons through the progression of reviews. The Programme will review the tools and guidance based on the evidence received and make any necessary updates each year.