In the news

Source: BBC news report

The official announcement from the UK Government on the future of quangos has confirmed the rumoured abolition of a total of 192 public bodies, with a further 118 to be merged.  

These include as rumoured (see previous news) the Human Genetics Commission (HGC), Gene Therapy Advisory Committee (GTAC) and Genetics and Insurance Committee (GAIC), along with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and Human Tissue Authority (HTA) as announced in July 2010 (see previous news). The recommendation is that the HGC should be reconstituted as a Department of Health committee of experts, whilst the functions of the HFEA and HTA and various health related committees should transfer to regulatory bodies, including a proposed new research regulator. 

The effect of these changes is likely to hinge significantly on the nature and remit of regulatory functions as devolved between existing and new regulators. It is not clear that financial savings will be made in the short term, though the Government says the moves will increase transparency and accountability. However, the capacity of public bodies to examine issues relating to genetics and medicine will certainly be reduced.