The ministerial committee on the Big Society that was announced by civil society minister Nick Hurd last week will comprise ministers from each and every government department, the Office for Civil Society has confirmed.

The first meeting of the new committee is being held this week, with minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude (pictured) in the chair.  Nick Hurd told a conference last week that he was planning to tell other ministers to think about the impact of spending cuts on the local and voluntary sector and to make sure the state minimises the damage to the sector.

Asked to provide more details about the committee and the agenda for its first meeting, the Cabinet Office issued a statement which said: “Each Secretary of State has been asked to nominate a minister in their department who will lead on the Big Society agenda. Together this group of ministers will form a ministerial group on Big Society.

“The ministerial group will provide leadership for the government's work on the Big Society agenda. This will involve both progressing commitments made by individual departments aimed at helping to build the Big Society, and also working together on cross-cutting issues.”