New minister promises to cut interference and red tape

The new minister for civil society, Nick Hurd, says he will cut bureaucracy and interference to make life easier for the sector.

Speaking to Cabinet Office staff alongside the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude, Hurd said: ‘We are committed to bringing a clear vision to the sector that will mean charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations are easier to run and not overwhelmed by interference and bureaucracy.'

He announced three ‘fundamental issues’ on which he wants government policy on social enterprise and the voluntary sector to focus:

• Making it easier to run a charity, social enterprise or voluntary organisation
• Getting more resources into the sector: strengthening its independence and resilience
• Making it easier for sector organisations to work with the State

He said the government valued both the economic and social contribution of Britain’s charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations, and ‘the extraordinary work individual people do to improve the lives of others and of the most disadvantaged’.

‘It is the sector’s commitment and ability to support and mobilise people across the country that puts it at the very centre of our mission to deliver better public services and build the Big Society.’