SACN and School Food Trust on quango bonfire?

The School Food Trust (SFT) and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) are both on a list of quangos facing the axe, according to a leaked report published in today's Telegraph.

The bodies join several other food-related organisations including the Pesticide Residues Committee; the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment; the Advisory Committee on Organic Standards; the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales and the Health Protection Agency, staff at which all face an anxious wait until the government announces its spending review.

While the SFT had been asked to cut its budget this year from £8.65m to £7.65m, it had been expected to continue to receive government funding, albeit at a reduced level.

No one from the SACN was available for comment this morning.

SFT chairman Rob Rees said: "Like all non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) we are waiting on the outcome of the government’s review of arms length bodies to decide on whether the SFT remains an NDPB. We can't comment on speculation or leaks.

"Regardless of the outcome of the ALB [arms length bodies] review, the SFT remains committed to this incredibly important agenda not least because of the huge economic, health and social costs of child obesity."

A Cabinet Office spokesman said that it was well-known that the government was preparing a programme of substantial reform to public bodies as part of a commitment to "increasing accountability and improving efficiency" but declined to comment on the detail of the leaked report.

What do they do?

The School Food Trust (SFT): The SFT was set up as non-departmental public body in 2005 with £15m of government funding to promote the education and health of children by improving the quality of food in schools.

The Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC): The PRC advise ministers and the Chemicals Regulation Directorate and the Food Standards Agency on the planning of surveillance programmes for pesticide residues on foods and the evaluation of the results. It also advises on procedures for sampling, sample processing and new methods of analysis.

The Advisory Committee on Organic Standards (ACOS): ACOS is a non-executive, non departmental public body which provides advice on the development and implementation of organic standards. It also assists DEFRA with the approval and control of the organic inspection bodies that license organic operators.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN): SACN is a committee of independent experts that provides advice to the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health on nutritional issues such as the addition of folic acid to foodstuffs.

The Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COM): COM is an independent advisory committee of doctors and scientists that provides advice to government departments and agencies on the potential mutagenicity of chemicals, from natural products to new synthetic chemicals used in pesticides or pharmaceuticals.

The Agricultural Wages Board (AWB): The AWB is an independent body with a statutory obligation to fix minimum wages for workers employed in agriculture in England and Wales. It also has discretionary powers to decide other terms and conditions of employment such as holidays and sick pay.