quango

The research also found that at least 1,472 quango staff received over £100,000 in total remuneration, which included salary, expenses and pension benefits.

Some of these organisations, known as quangos, could be closed, merged, or have their responsibilities handed over to departments.

The government has already announced big cuts to the welfare bill as well as plans to cut the civil service and abolish several quangos including NHS England.

He said for too long politicians had "chosen to hide behind vast arrays of quangos" - organisations funded by taxpayers but not directly controlled by the government.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the move was the "beginning not the end" and he wants to slim down bloated bureaucracy, meaning more quangos could go.