Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Charities: Cost of Living

Thursday 22 February 2024 · 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 have invested millions of pounds to support charities across England with the cost of living pressures, including the 76 million community organisations cost of living fund.
  • Having been a head of fundraising for a charity, I recognise the position charities face when donations fall at the minute they need to help more people.
  • The Government provided 100 million in funding and added another 76 million from dormant assets to help charities in difficult situations.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Charities are facing significant challenges due to rising costs, falling income, and higher demand, leading to a crisis where half of charities are at full capacity and some have had to turn people away.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help support charities with increases in the cost of living. Charities across my constituency in Blaydon do an amazing job in supporting people and communities in what are really difficult times. Today, a triple threat of rising costs, falling income and higher demand has created what the National Council for Voluntary Organisations has called a cost of giving crisis.

Answer from Stuart Andrew

The Government have invested millions of pounds to support charities across England with the cost of living pressures, including the £76 million community organisations cost of living fund. Having been a head of fundraising for a charity, I recognise the position charities face when donations fall at the minute they need to help more people. That is why we have provided £100 million in funding and added another £76 million from dormant assets to help charities in that difficult situation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for further steps was not fully addressed, instead the answer repeated existing measures without specifying new ones.

How: Repeating Existing Measures

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Q2 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Charities are under immense pressure with rising costs, falling income, and higher demand, leading to a crisis where charities report they cannot cope.

Question

Today, a triple threat of rising costs, falling income and higher demand has created what the National Council for Voluntary Organisations has called a cost of giving crisis, with half of all charities saying they are at full capacity and some having to turn people away. What further steps can the Government take to ensure charities can continue with their vital work?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

Having been a head of fundraising for a charity, I recognise the position charities face when donations fall at the minute they need to help more people. That is why we have provided £100 million in funding and added another £76 million from dormant assets to help charities in that difficult situation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for further steps was not fully addressed, instead the answer repeated existing measures without specifying new ones.

How: Repeating Existing Measures

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Q3 Thangam Debbonaire Lab
Context

A report found that charities are propping up Government services by £2.4 billion a year, highlighting the extent to which charities are taking on responsibilities traditionally handled by the state.

Question

On Monday it was a privilege to speak at the launch of the “State of the Sector” report, which found that charities are propping up Government services by £2.4 billion a year. Will the Minister tell me why the Government expect the charitable sector to pick up the tab for Government responsibilities in the first place?

Answer from Stuart Andrew

Clearly, the hon. Lady does not understand the charity sector if that is the position she is taking. Having worked in it for 16 years, I will not be lectured on this. For example, I found that the hospices I worked in were able to respond to the needs of families in a much better and more holistic way than the state sector could.

Not addressed: The specific ask was completely avoided.

How: Personal Attack, Changing Subject

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