Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the extent to which local authorities’ compacts with the voluntary sector are being complied with in practice; and if he will make a statement.

Compacts between local authorities and civil society can be an effective means of strengthening partnership working and delivering better outcomes to those in need. It is the responsibility of local authorities to decide whether a local compact would be of value in their area and to ensure that it is complied with where they are put in place. The Government's forthcoming Civil Society Strategy will provide an opportunity to consider practical ways of improving cross sectoral partnerships.