The coalition Government says it is now more than halfway through the first wave of its quango reform programme, with the closures made set to save at least £1.4 bn for the taxpayer in this Parliament.
So far 106 of the public bodies have been closed - more than half the current target of 204 - with another 150 bodies to be merged into fewer than 70.
The Government says it is on track to save at least £2.6bn by 2015 - the equivalent of £150 for each working household in the country.
In a recent report, the Public Accounts Committee called the Government's reforms of the quango landscape "the largest restructuring of public bodies for many decades" and said it would have a substantial and lasting impact on how public money is spent.
The closure of these public bodies aims to save taxpayer money, increase accountability and improve public services.
The programme also forms a crucial part of the wider Civil Service Reform Plan , which is currently underway.
Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude said: "In 2010 we inherited a bloated quangocracy that had spiralled out of control.
"Not only were these unaccountable bodies costing the taxpayer billions, but they were duplicating bureaucracy.
"In the past, people just talked the talk on quango reform. We took swift action by legislating to enable departments to deliver long-overdue reforms by closing down unnecessary public bodies.
"The changes we have already made will save £1.4bn, but by 2015 the Government will save the taxpayer a total of more than £2.6bn - that's more than £150 per working household."
Controversially, the bodies already closed down include the Regional Development Agencies. The Government claims their closure will save the taxpayer billions and ensure that local economies are provided with tailored support to boost growth.
Canals and Waterways has become a charity called The Canals And Waterways Trust .
The Government has taken direct responsibility for the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (CMEC), bringing it back into the Department for Work and Pensions.
Ministers claim the Child Support Agency was a bureaucratic and costly organisation with a history of problems.
The reforms will ensure that it is once again the responsibility of ministers to improve this service for the families that rely on it.
The Civil Service Reform Plan published earlier this summer affects arms-length bodies like quangos, ensuring that improvements in accountability, efficiency and the quality of public services are embedded throughout the wider public sector.
