Devolution and quangos in the United Kingdom: the implementation of principles and policies for rationalisation and democratisation

Abstract

Much attention has been paid to the asymmetrical features of devolution between Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but the relationship of non-departmental public bodies and other quangos to the new devolved institutions presented a largely similar challenge and produced a degree of convergence in policies. This article examines why quangos and their position in the distribution of governance was a particularly salient issue in the context of devolution and led to the adoption of similar policies aimed at a rationalisation and democratisation of quangos. The article focuses on the implementation of these policies and identifies the limited outcomes, the constraints on a more comprehensive redistribution of the functions of quangos in the three countries and the possibility of achieving some of the policy objectives without radical restructuring. It also examines the difficulties in formulating principles to determine which functions are appropriate for delegation to quangos within devolved systems of government.