Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Charity Sector: Cost of Living

Thursday 9 March 2023 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Patricia Gibson asked about the impact of cost of living increases on the charity sector.
  • The Minister acknowledged the significant potential loss of 580 million due to reduced charitable donations.
  • The Minister stated they are continually engaging with the charity sector to assess the situation and provide support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Patricia Gibson SNP
Economy
Context

The question addresses the growing financial strain on charities due to rising costs and increased demand for services. The MP highlights a study indicating that 36% of consumers plan to reduce charitable donations in the near future, potentially leading to a £580 million loss for charities.

Question

What assessment has she made of the impact of increases in the cost of living on the charity sector? Research shows that up to 36% of consumers will cut their charitable donations in the next three months, which may see charities lose up to £580 million. What recent assessment has been made regarding the economic viability of charities amid these challenges?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The hon Lady is absolutely right to raise this issue; it is one reason that I have made sure that I am continually engaging with the sector to understand exactly what the situation is and how it is dealing with it. There has been significant support in the past and I continue to talk to colleagues across Government about how we can help. This week, as a result of the dormant assets scheme, £76 million has been allocated specifically to address cost of living problems.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for specific steps the government will take but only mentioned ongoing engagement and allocation of funds without concrete commitments or timelines.

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Q2 Patricia Gibson SNP
Economy
Context

The question addresses the growing financial strain on charities due to rising costs and increased demand for services. The MP highlights a study indicating that 36% of consumers plan to reduce charitable donations in the near future, potentially leading to a £580 million loss for charities.

Question

What assessment has she made of the impact of increases in the cost of living on the charity sector? Research shows that up to 36% of consumers will cut their charitable donations in the next three months, which may see charities lose up to £580 million. What recent assessment has been made regarding the economic viability of charities amid these challenges?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The hon Lady is absolutely right to raise this issue; it is one reason that I have made sure that I am continually engaging with the sector to understand exactly what the situation is and how it is dealing with it. There has been significant support in the past and I continue to talk to colleagues across Government about how we can help. This week, as a result of the dormant assets scheme, £76 million has been allocated specifically to address cost of living problems.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The MP asked for specific steps the government will take but only mentioned ongoing engagement and allocation of funds without concrete commitments or timelines.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)