One of the election pledges that the Conservatives were most keen to keep was a promise to mount a slash and burn attack on the ‘quangocracy' that had grown up under New Labour, as part of a general attack on red tape and bureaucracy.

When, within days, the demise of Bringing Educational Creativity to All (BECTA) was announced, there were few who publicly lamented its passing and, in children's services and education, there soon followed a longer list of bodies whose days were numbered.