Quangos

Part of First Minister's Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 12:00 pm on 13 September 2007.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Alex Salmond Alex Salmond First Minister of Scotland, Leader, Scottish National Party 12:00, 13 September 2007

We have discovered that there were hidden quangos as well as hidden waiting lists under the previous Administration. However, to answer Mr Brown's question more specifically, apparently the Scottish definition of quango includes not only non-departmental public bodies but executive agencies. That is the reason for the difference between the two numbers. However, whether the number is 152 or even more, as it is now, I am sure that Robert Brown will agree that there are too many. The number has increased but it ought to be diminished.