Jargon buster: Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)

What does it mean? Non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) are often referred to as quangos (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations). They are essentially bodies that are established and sponsored by government departments to carry out work while still retaining their independence. This means that, although they are tasked with meeting a certain need of the government, NDPBs still determine the way in which their work is done and the way in which funds are distributed within the organisation.

There are three types of NDPBs: executive bodies that deliver a public service, such as Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service); advisory bodies, which consist of boards advising ministers on policy areas, such as the Independent Advisory Group on Teenage Pregnancy; and tribunal bodies with a judicial function, such as the Mental Health Review Tribunal.