Contribution of voluntary sector debated in the Lords

Debate

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin (Labour), president of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, put forward the debate.  

This is a general debate. During debates, members put their experience to good use to discuss current issues and draw the government's attention to concerns.      

Members speaking

Contributing members included:

• Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Conservative), chief executive of Cerebral Palsy Scotland
• Lord Hastings of Scarisbrick (Crossbench), president of civic organisations network, UK Community Foundations 
• Baroness Pitkeathley (Labour), chair of the Big Society Trust and former chair of the Voluntary Sector Advisory Board
• Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrats), former chair of the England Volunteer Development Council.

Opening the debate, Baroness Morgan of Drefelin said:

'[Charities] develop skills in communities, supporting people back to work and providing opportunity to young people. Charities contribute an estimated £20 billion per year—or 1% of GDP—to the economy.'

Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie added:

'Charities with an income of under £1 million each year accounted for over 97% of charity closures for each of the last 10 years. As these organisations have seen diminished statutory funding over the years, a decline in meaningful corporate support and not enough philanthropists, they have become over-reliant on funding from trusts and foundations.'

Baroness Twycross (Labour), Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, responded on behalf of the government:

'The Chancellor announced yesterday that the government are providing an additional £233 million in grant funding for homelessness services, over £250 million to continue testing children’s social care reforms and a £1 billion uplift to SEND and alternative provision funding other public services, to allow local authorities to further support those most in need. Much of this investment will of course be delivered through the voluntary and community sectors.'

Catch up

Watch and read the debate  

Watch live on Parliament TV or read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Explore background information  

• Find out more about the issues the debate covers in the House of Lords Library briefing. 
• Learn more about how the House of Lords checks and challenges government. 

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