I'm attracted by the CIPD's idea of merging the plethora of employment and skills quangos into a single Workplace Commission.
CIPD public policy director John Philpott is right when he says the quangocracy operating in the UK employment policy space has grown far too large and needs streamlining. So we should welcome the CIPD's proposal and both Labour and Conservative plans for a so-called bonfire of quangos.
Tory leader David Cameron gave the example in his speech yesterday of eight new quangos takig on the training responsibilities of the Learning and Skills Council when it is scrapped next year.
Philpott has pointed to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and Acas both having an interest in promoting high performance work practices, even though their primary concerns are skills and employment relations.
This tendency towards 'mission creep' is what the CIPD warns against. It wants a complete review of quangos' remit to see how they should operate in the future.
Anything that simplifies the system for employers, avoids duplication and saves money for the taxpayer is welcome. Let's hope we see some real progress on this.
