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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she is taking steps to increase the size of the social enterprise sector; and if she will make a statement.

The Government supports the social enterprise sector in a number of ways. This includes;

• targeted support for social enterprises in disadvantaged places through the £4.1million Social Enterprise Boost Fund, that will provide support such as training, networking and peer learning and includes £1.5million of grants for entrepreneurs to kickstart their social enterprises;

• access to finance, including £485 million of dormant assets funding that has been allocated to social investment, supporting thousands of charities and social enterprises across England;

• increasing participation in delivering public services through the £900,000 VCSE Contract Readiness Fund announced in September;

• support for start-ups including the government backed Start Up Loans Company that provides loans of up to £25,000 per director to support entrepreneurs to start and grow a business.

The Government recognises the social enterprise sector’s contribution to society and the economy and welcomes collaboration between social enterprises and other forms of socially oriented business who are working to achieve positive societal benefits.