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The education quango that scrapped traditional history lessons would itself be axed by the Tories in a bonfire of faceless bureaucracies, David Cameron said today.
The Qualifications, Curriculum and Development Agency will be among government-run bodies broken up, with their duties passed back to elected ministers.
In a keynote speech to the Reform think-tank, the Conservative party leader called it an example of an unnecessary body that had shifted major decisions away from the public. Mr Cameron said it had "ensured that children did not learn about the most important events in British history".
He went on: "Just think about it: one of the most important things in the world - what your children learn - all dreamt up by a body you have no control over, and which has no real reason to exist."
Ofcom, the agency that oversees television and other media, would also be scrapped. Ministers in the Culture Department should take decisions on "matters of public policy" such as the future of regional news and Channel 4, Mr Cameron said.
Labour pre-empted his speech by announcing its own review of spending by public bodies. Treasury Secretary Liam Byrne said it would "make sure every penny of public money goes to front-line services".
He said Conservative pledges would mean 17 new quangos - a claim dismissed as "rubbish" by Mr Cameron.
Reader views (1)
The last time the Tories were in power the Health Service was run by Qangos staffed by Tory MP's wives who were handsomely paid for their part time jobs. There is no way that Cameron and his cronies will give up control of anything after the Election. Gove will interfere on a weekly basis in Education as he is like a pillow and adopts the last policy that a right-wing guru suggests to him.
- Elmer Gatty, Hammersmith England, 06/07/2009 14:42
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