Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to tackle illicit fundraising activities by charities.

We have amended the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill, currently in Parliament, to require trustees of charities with an income of over £1m to take more responsibility for their fundraising and be more transparent and accountable about it in their annual reports. This includes where fundraising is undertaken by professional fundraisers on the charity’s behalf. It will require large charities to explain how they protect people, and in particular vulnerable individuals, from undue pressure to donate.

I asked Sir Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive of the National Council for Voluntary Associations, to chair a small cross-party panel to make recommendations to government, the charity sector and fundraisers on the changes needed to make self-regulation of fundraising work properly. I understand that the review is making good progress and that Sir Stuart will report shortly.