This page contains information on public bodies. This includes statistical information on non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), links to more detailed information on NDPBs and copies of guidance for Goverment Departments on the establishment of Executive Agencies and NDPBs.
Public Bodies is the annual Cabinet Office report on the non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) sector. Public Bodies 2009 lists all NDPBs as at 31 March 2009 – and provides headline information on the staffing, funding and expenditure of the NDPB sector. Public Bodies 2009 also provides statistical information on those serving on the boards of NDPBs and similar public bodies.
- Public Bodies 2009 (PDF 157KB, 27 pages)
Categories of Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments
- Categories of Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments
This document replaces the guidance set out in chapter one of “Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments - Guidance on Reviews of Non Departmental Public Bodies [PDF]
This document replaces the guidance set out in chapter nine of “Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments”. - Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies [PDF]
This Code replaces Guidance on Codes of Practice for Board Members of Public Bodies issued by the Cabinet Office in 2004.
Earlier editions of Public Bodies
Public Bodies has been published annually since 1980. Copies dating back to 1998 are available online.
Information on individual NDPBs
The Cabinet Office report Public Bodies provides lists of all NDPBs and headline information on the NDPB sector. More detailed information on each NDPB is published by individual Departments and by the NDPB itself.
Executive Agencies: A Guide for Departments
- Executive Agencies: A Guide for Departments [PDF, 104KB, 20 pages]
Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments
This updated guidance supersedes the previous September 2004 version of the NDPB Guidance.
Overview of Guidance Documents – Contents
- Overview – Word version [MS Word 160KB, 5 pages]
- Overview – PDF version [PDF 62KB, 5 pages]
Chapter 1: Case assessment and classification of a Public Body
- Case assessment – Word version [MS Word 175KB, 7 pages]
- Case assessment – PDF version [PDF 81KB, 7 pages]
Chapter 2: Policy and characteristics of a Public Body
- Policy and characteristics – Word version [MS Word 197KB, 13 pages]
- Policy and characteristics – PDF version [PDF 100KB, 13 pages]
Chapter 3: Setting up a new Public Body – The Legislative Requirements
- Requirements – Word version [MS Word 230KB, 15 pages]
- Requirements – PDF version [PDF 107KB, 15 pages]
Chapter 4: Setting up a New Executive NDPB – The Practical Tasks
- Setting up a New Executive – Word version [MS Word 268KB, 14 pages]
- Setting up a New Executive – PDF version[PDF 93KB, 14 pages]
Chapter 5: Public Body Staff
- Public Body staff – Word version[MS Word 359KB, 28 pages]
- Public Body staff – PDF version[PDF 148KB, 28 pages]
Chapter 6: Financial Management – Accountability
- Accountability – Word version[MS Word 219KB, 16 pages]
- Accountability – PDF version[PDF 106KB, 16 pages]
Chapter 7: Financial Management – Planning, Funding and Control
- Planning, funding and control – Word version [MS Word 206KB, 15 pages]
- Planning, funding and control – PDF version [PDF 99KB, 15 pages]
Chapter 8: Policy – Openness and Accountability
- Policy – Word version[MS Word 220KB, 13 pages]
- Policy – PDF version[PDF 95KB, 13 pages]
Chapter 9: Reviewing a Public Body
- Guidance for reviewing – Word version[MS Word 250KB, 24 pages]
- Guidance for reviewing – PDF version[PDF 123KB, 24 pages]
Chapter 10: Dissolving a Public Body
- Dissolving a Public Body – Word version[MS Word 146KB, 6 pages]
- Dissolving a Public Body – PDF version[PDF 66KB, 6 pages]