VisitBritain and Visit England avoid quango cull but School Food Trust for the chop

Tourist bodies VisitBritain and Visit England have evaded the axe in the Government's cull of quangos, but the School Food Trust (SFT) has been given the chop.

Publishing its official reform document for public bodies today, the Government confirmed both VisitBritain and Visit England would endure, as they perform technical functions best kept separate from direct control.

Under the previous Labour government, VisitBritain saw its marketing budget reduced significantly, resulting in a seemingly never-ending series of restructuring, but is seems David Cameron is living up to his word and is backing tourism.

However, as previously leaked in the media, the SFT, which was set up in 2005 to spearhead school meals reform after Jamie Oliver's campaign, is one of 192 public bodies that will cease to be.

The SFT, which has not always been universally loved within the school meals sector, has already revealed its intention to continue its work as a charity.

The Government also intends to merge the Competition Commission with the Office of Fair Trading, but will retain the Low Pay Commission, which sets the annual National Minimum Wage.

British Waterways, which through its stewardship of the UK's river network owns a number of pub assets, is to be recast as a charity akin to the National Trust.

The Migration Advisory Committee, which is responsible for setting the annual immigration cap affecting chefs from outside the EU, is to be retained as well.

Following the reforms, 648 public bodies will remain from a starting total of 901.

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School caterers' body wants SFT cash redirected to front-line services >>

School Food Trust to be cut >>

By Chris Druce

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