Quango cull ill-thought out ideological exercise, says
Unite
14 October 2010
The coalition’s plans to cull 192 quangos are ill-thought out
and ideologically-driven, Unite, the largest union in the country,
said today (Thursday 14 October).
Unite joint general secretary, Tony Woodley, said: ”The fact
that cabinet office minister, Francis Maude is unable to say how
much will be saved and how many jobs will be affected by this cull
shows the threadbare nature of the thinking behind these abolition
plans.
”There has been little or no consultation on these proposals
from this ‘we are all in this together’ government.
”In many areas of the economy and social policy quangos are
important in protecting the economically vulnerable, the put-upon
consumer and acting as economic generators.
”For example, the Agricultural Wages Board protects hundreds of
thousands of rural workers from wage poverty; Consumer Focus
helps redress the imbalance between the individual consumer and the
power of the utility companies; and the regional development
agencies bring money to the regions to kick-start the much needed
drive for economic growth and the accompanying extra
jobs.
”Unite, along with other trade unions, voluntary organisations
and consumer groups, will be leading the opposition to the
threatened job losses and raising pertinent questions as to why
certain quangos are being cut.
”This is another case of the coalition putting ideology before
rational analysis and the cuts agenda before the needs of
citizens.”
ENDS
Note to news editors:
For further information, please contact: Shaun Noble, Unite
communications officer, on 07768 693940
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