Public bodies explained

Public bodies are commonly understood to deliver a public or government service.

Arm’s-Length Bodies refers to a wide range of public bodies, including executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies, non-ministerial departments, public corporations, regulators and tribunals.

There are a number of reports which explain the key characteristics of Public Bodies and Arm’s-Length Bodies:

2006, Non-Departmental Public Bodies: characteristics and governance, UK Government.

2016,  Classification of public bodies: information and guidance, UK Government.

2018, Executive Agencies: characteristics and governance, UK Government.

2020, Arm’s-Length Bodies: the case for them in specialised delivery and how to optimise their use, UK Government Investments (UKGI).

2021, Public Bodies Briefing Paper, House of Commons Library.

2021, Public sector classification guide and forward work plan, Office of National Statistics (ONS).

2022, Whitehall Monitor, Institute for Government (IfG).

2022, License to lead: Lessons for public bodies from the pandemic response in health, Institute for Government (IfG).

2022, Reforming public appointments, Institute for Government (IfG).

2022, Fit for the future? Re-thinking the public services workforce, House of Lords Public Services Committee.