Transport quangos to be abolished

The government has announced that the following Quangos are to be abolished (with a bowler tip to the Local Democracy Blog):

Department for Transport (DfT):

• BRB (Residuary) Ltd
• Commission for Integrated Transport
• Cycling England
• Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee
• Railway Heritage Committee
• Renewable Fuels Agency

Whilst the following DfT sponsored quangos will be retained:

• British Transport Police Authority
• Civil Aviation Authority
• Directly Operated Railways Ltd
• London and Continental Railways Ltd
• Northern Lighthouse Board
• Office of Rail Regulation
• Passenger Focus/Passengers’ Council
• Traffic Commissioners and Deputies
• Trinity House Lighthouse Service

One or two surprises in the retained list!

UPDATE: These additional details from The Skip...

BRB (Residuary) Ltd No longer a Public Corporation - Abolish body and transfer functions to the Secretary of State for Transport. BRBR will be wound up once a programme of asset disposals is complete

British Transport Police Authority Retain - Retain on grounds of performing a technical function which should remain independent from Government

Civil Aviation Authority Retain - Retain on grounds of performing a function which requires impartiality

Commission for Integrated Transport No longer an NDPB - Abolish body and seek arrangement that delivers external analysis and strategic advice on cross-modal transport policy and realising benefits, at lower cost

Cycling England No longer an NDPB - Abolish body. We have announced a Local Sustainable Travel Fund and will explore ways of marshalling expert input on cycling issues, including to support the Fund

Disabled Persons' Transport Advisory Committee No longer an NDPB - Abolish body. We are exploring options for continuing to gain the disability advice we need through a more flexible, accountable structure

Directly Operated Railways Ltd Retain - Retain on grounds of performing a technical function which should remain independent of Government

London and Continental Railways Ltd Retain - Retain on grounds of performing a technical function which should remain independent of Government

Northern Lighthouse Board Retain - Retain on grounds of performing a technical function which should remain independent of Government

Office of Rail Regulation Retain - Retain on grounds of performing a function which requires impartiality

Passenger Focus/Passengers' Council Retain and substantially reform - Retain on grounds of performing a function which requires impartiality. Substantially reform to focus on core role of protecting passengers, while reducing cost to taxpayers

Railway Heritage Committee No longer an NDPB - Abolish body and functions. No equivalent protection applies to the heritage items of any other transport sector

So now you know!

UPDATE: This from a Mr West, currently residing in the North American Dominion,...

"Commission for Integrated Transport: No longer an NDPB - Abolish body and seek arrangement that delivers external analysis"

Doesn't that just mean using those over-priced consultants everyone keeps moaning about?

At least it will help boost private sector employment... (full disclosure: I was one of the those consultants before fleeing the country a few years ago).