Arms length Bodies to close

The review of Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) published in July 2010 assessed whether the work of each of the Department’s ALBs remains essential.

It also looked at whether work was being duplicated or could be carried out by a different body, or in a different way. There was a clear intention to remove from the sector those organisations that the review concluded would no longer be needed. This statement provides more information on those organisations.

Following the listening exercise on the NHS reforms and the report from the Future Forum in June, and subject to the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill and related secondary legislation, organisations that will close or move out of the sector are:

The Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC) will close by the end of July 2012. The assets of the AERC have been transferred to a new independent charity, Alcohol Research UK, which was launched in September 2011. The residual body will be abolished by the end of July 2012.

The General Social Care Council (GSCC) will close at the end of July 2012 and its regulatory functions will transfer to the Health and Care Professions Council.

The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) will close by the end of July 2012.

The Appointments Commission (AC) will close by the end of October 2012.

The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (NHS III) – removal from the ALB sector and transfer of functions will happen no earlier than July 2012.

The Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) – moving out of the sector, to be renamed the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) by no later than the end of September 2012.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) – will close and have their functions transferred to Public Health England, which will be established as an executive agency of the Department of Health in April 2013.

In the longer-term and subject to further future primary legislation:

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) - transfer of functions and closure. We will be consulting later in the year where functions from these organisations might transfer.