Civil society minister Stephanie Peacock has defended the government’s support for the sector after MP Iain Duncan Smith accused it of taking small charities for granted.
The former Conservative leader’s debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday focused on his perception that the government takes “grassroots charity too much for granted”.
Duncan Smith said the issue was long-running and not party political but that the government “fails to listen when charities are delivering what works”.
He said: “The programmes of these charities have been tried and tested, and they work – in life, it is always a good start to look at what works and copy it. That is what most of us would want to do.”
In response, Peacock defended her government’s work with charities and highlighted the Civil Society Covenant as an attempt to improve relationships with the sector.
“I do not recognise [Duncan Smith’s] characterisation that the government do not listen and engage, or that they simply take small charities for granted,” she said.
“I acknowledge that we can always do better, but the covenant is about having the ambition to do exactly that.”
Plans to boost philanthropy
Peacock said she recognised the need to increase voluntary organisations’ involvement in public procurement, with 4% of such contracts going to the sector currently.
She said the national procurement policy statement published in February 2025 aims to address this.
“That is a clear signal that the sector’s expertise and value will be recognised and supported throughout the public sector, highlighting our ambition to make it easier for civil society organisations of all sizes, and small and medium-sized enterprises, to deliver public contracts,” she said.
Peacock said the government was “committed” to its upcoming place-based philanthropy strategy, plans for which were announced last year.
“That will set out how the government can create an environment that encourages philanthropists to support local communities and ensures that the benefits of philanthropy are felt nationwide.”
She also said the Cabinet Office’s recently formed Office for the Impact Economy “will make sure that charities can access funding beyond traditional grants and give direction to individuals and organisations looking to make a difference”.
