Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Thursday 12th November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Ian Murray]

These are questions that have been asked in the Green Paper. The White Paper will be published soon, and I am not going to pre-empt it at this Dispatch Box. The hon. Gentleman will just have to contain himself until then. The big, fundamental issue here is how we deal with the misinformation and disinformation in this country that is undermining our democracy and society and doing the kinds of things that have been experienced by the hon. Member for Eastbourne. Those are the kinds of questions the Green Paper is trying to address. It is in all our interests—the interests of every Member in this House—to get misinformation and disinformation out of our ecosystem so that we can have a thriving democracy and thriving communities.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon and Consett) (Lab)]

9. What steps her Department is taking to support volunteering.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Vicky Foxcroft)]

I thank my hon. Friend for her support for volunteers who strengthen communities like Blaydon and Consett, and I pay tribute to her first-hand experience as a Samaritan. This year we provided £300,000 for the Big Help Out, promoting nearly 5 million volunteering opportunities across the country. We extended the know your neighbourhood fund, providing an additional £4.5 million to voluntary organisations. We also worked with the Open Data Institute and civil society partners to create a simpler system for advertising opportunities across a range of platforms.

[Liz Twist]

In two weeks’ time, I will hold my annual red kite awards, ensuring that volunteers in Blaydon and Consett know the value of their work—they go above and beyond to help save lives and support whole communities. But for many voluntary organisations rising costs and reduced funding are making that good work ever more difficult. What steps are the Government taking to support voluntary groups and ensure that they are able to continue that vital support?

[Vicky Foxcroft]

First, I congratulate my hon. Friend on all the work she does to ensure that the red kite awards take place. This Government are backing a strong and sustainable voluntary sector, as outlined in the civil society covenant, through VAT reliefs on donated goods, updating charity thresholds, which will save £47 million annually, and the £2 million better commissioning pathways programme. We are supporting voluntary organisations to build resilience and deliver vital support.