Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Charity Sector: Cost of Living

Thursday 20 July 2023 · 3 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

  • The Government has announced a funding package of over 100 million for community organisations in England to address cost of living pressures.
  • Three out of five Scottish charities are concerned about their survival due to financial pressures.
  • The Minister is committed to reviewing structures related to postcode lottery sales but needs more evidence that current limits are being reached.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gavin Newlands SNP
Economy Scotland
Context

The charity sector is experiencing increased demand and reduced income due to rising costs. The Charities Aid Foundation reports that more than a third of charities have had to cut services.

Question

What assessment has the Minister made of the effect of increases in the cost of living on the charity sector? According to CAF, over one-third of charities have had to make cuts to their services due to financial pressures. Three out of five Scottish charities are concerned about survival. The Government holds financial powers but refuses to intervene.

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The Government understands that cost of living pressures are affecting the charity sector. They have announced a funding package of over £100 million for community organisations in England. Some of this funding was distributed through Barnet funding formula. The Scottish Government has not provided information on their support for Scottish charities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response did not address the specific situation and concerns in Scotland, focusing instead on English charity sector support.

How: Changing Subject To England

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Q2 Gavin Newlands SNP
Economy Scotland
Context

SNP member concerned about the impact of cost of living on charities in Scotland. Scottish charities are worried about survival due to reduced finances.

Question

The SNP spokesperson criticises the government's approach and offers to join the Minister on a flight to Australia, questioning the contentment of letting charities fail amid financial pressures. The situation is attributed to Tory cost of living crisis. Only this Government has powers to intervene but refuses to do so.

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The Minister does not recognise the described situation and announces £100 million in funding for community organisations. Some of this was distributed through Barnet formula. The Scottish Government has not provided information on their support for Scottish charities.

Not addressed: Minister did not address concerns about letting charities fail or the impact in Scotland.

How: Changing Subject To England, Criticising Lack Of Information From The Scottish Government

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Q3 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Context

Postcode lottery sales cap is a concern for charities, impacting their ability to raise funds.

Question

Would raising the cap on postcode lottery sales significantly improve the situation for many charities?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The hon. Friend has campaigned hard on this issue, and there was a Westminster Hall debate recently. The Minister is committed to reviewing some structures but needs more evidence that current limits are being reached.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Minister did not commit to raising the cap or providing specific timelines for review.

How: Needing More Evidence, Keeping Under Review

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