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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the progress of the Fundraising Regulator in improving standards in charity fundraising.

Since its launch in July 2016, the Fundraising Regulator has taken ownership of the Code of Fundraising Practice and is consulting on strengthening it. The regulator is handling public complaints about poor fundraising practices. Proposals for the Fundraising Preference Service, to help people opt out of receiving charity fundraising communications, have been developed and the new service is due to start in summer 2017.

Most large fundraising charities have already shown their commitment to best practice by supporting the Fundraising Regulator and paying its levy. The Government has reserve powers to intervene if the level of support for the Fundraising Regulator from the charity sector is insufficient.