Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will remove the 31 March 2021 deadline by which charities and the voluntary sector must spend any grant funding received from the £750 million fund for frontline charities.

The Government has announced a £750 million support package for charities to enable vital work during the pandemic.

This includes up to £200m for hospices and £360 million direct from Government departments, supporting organisations like St John Ambulance and the Citizens Advice Bureau as well as charities supporting children, victims of domestic abuse, or disabled people.

£200 million is being distributed by the National Lottery Community Fund through the Coronavirus Community Support Fund. More than 98% of this funding has been disbursed to recipient charities.

The Government has matched public donations to the BBC’s “Big Night In” charity appeal, with over £37 million being distributed by Comic Relief, Children In Need and the National Emergencies Trust to charities on the frontline.

The Government has also announced 19 philanthropists, foundations and grant-making organisations to receive a share of match funding from the £85 million Community Match Challenge, generating £170 million for charities’ vital work.

The government keeps all sector support packages under review