The Ministry of Justice has today confirmed that the Youth Justice Board and two court rules committees are among the legal quangos to be abolished as part of a drive to cut costs and ‘reinvigorate public trust’ in democracy.

The bodies to be scrapped include: the Youth Justice Board for England & Wales; the Chief Coroner’s Office; the Victims’ Advisory Panel; the Administrative Justice & Tribunals Council; the Courts Boards; the Crown Court Rule Committee; the Magistrates’ Courts Rule Committee; the Public Guardian Board; and HM Inspectorate of Court Administration.

The future of the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Judicial Appointments and Conduct Ombudsman and the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information remain under consideration, the MoJ said.

The MoJ also confirmed that the Crown Prosecution Service will merge with the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office, while the Advisory Council on Historical Manuscripts and the Advisory Council on Public Records will merge with the lord chancellor’s Advisory Council on National Records and Archives.

The Legal Services Commission will become an executive agency of the MoJ.

Justice minister Jonathan Djanogly said: ‘This announcement marks an unprecedented step towards enhanced transparency, increased accountability and greater efficiency of all public services. Reform will help to reinvigorate the public’s trust in democracy. It will ensure the restoration of ministerial accountability for important decisions that affect lives and the way taxpayers’ money is spent.’