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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Prime Minister's statement that the Government will be doing much more over the winter to support the voluntary sector, Official Report, 2 November 2020, Vol. 683, col. 41, what recent assessment he has made of the progress the he has made on that commitment.

Government recognises the huge contribution of charities in the national effort against coronavirus, and the significant challenges that many in the sector have experienced.

Charities continue to benefit from a multi-billion-pound package of government support. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, now extended to the end of September. Many charity shops have benefited from the Chancellor’s £4.6 billion in lockdown grants for premises required to close, and will have been able to access Restart Grants to safely relaunch trading. My department has also worked with the Fundraising Regulator and the Chartered Institute of Fundraising to support the development of guidance to help make responsible and safe fundraising a possibility.

This support builds on over £1 billion in targeted funding, including the £750 million charities package, which has helped more than 14,000 organisations across the country respond to the impact of Covid-19.

We will continue to work with the sector to assess their emerging needs as we move into recovery.