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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential long-term effect of providing financial support to smaller charities for fundraising training and support.

Government is committed to building the resilience and independence of smaller charities. The Office for Civil Society in England are providing a multi-year programme of fundraising training and support.

We are committed to improving public service outcomes by ensuring that small charities are able to compete for commissioned grants and contracts. This is why in December 2016, we announced the public services programme to strengthen the role of civil society organisations in the public service markets. We are continuing to work with local authority, voluntary sector and cross-government stakeholders to prepare for delivery of this programme.

Our vision is of a confident and capable sector, with the ability to raise funds from diverse sources. By increasing their long term sustainability, small charities can continue their vital role in helping to build a stronger society.