Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector

Thursday 15 January 2026 · 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

  • Harpreet Uppal raised concerns about local charities in Huddersfield facing funding challenges despite increasing demand and rising costs.
  • The Secretary of State highlighted efforts to support charities, including doubling the employment allowance for over half of charities with national insurance contributions.
  • David Mundell inquired about difficulties small organizations face in obtaining bank accounts for funding purposes.
  • The Secretary of State committed to discussing this issue with Treasury colleagues to address the challenges faced by small organizations.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Harpreet Uppal Lab Huddersfield
Benefits & Welfare Local Government
Context

Local charities in Huddersfield are struggling with increased demand and rising costs while facing a decrease in funding opportunities.

Question

I have met local charities that do incredible work but face challenges due to increasing demand and rising service costs while funding decreases. What steps is the Secretary of State taking to ensure charities in Huddersfield receive adequate funding to deliver essential services?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

We recognise the need to protect small charities; that is why we more than doubled the employment allowance, meaning over half of charities with national insurance contributions liabilities will either gain or see no change in 2025-26. We are also piloting a new way of working under the national youth strategy to make sure support for young people is driven by local organisations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issue regarding funding for charities in Huddersfield was not addressed with concrete steps or timelines.

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Q2 David Mundell Con Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Business & Trade
Context

Small and voluntary organisations face difficulties in obtaining a bank account from some banks due to lack of services or excessive bureaucracy.

Question

To obtain funding, most small organisations require a bank account. Is the Secretary of State aware that many organisations struggle with this process? Will she speak with her colleagues in the Treasury to resolve why it is difficult for such organisations to get an account?

Answer from The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)

I will certainly make sure that I and my hon. Friend take up this matter with colleagues in the Treasury to resolve it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While acknowledging the issue, no concrete steps or timeline were provided for resolving the difficulty small organisations face in obtaining bank accounts.

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