Red tape 'purged' to help voluntary sector
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 12:01 AM
By politics.co.uk staff
Charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups can look forward to less paperwork following the government's appointment of a red tape-cutting taskforce.
Robin Hodgson, a former Conservative frontbencher in the House of Lords, has been asked to lead the deregulation group examining how to reduce "burdens" on the third sector. He is currently president of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.
"I relish this opportunity to try to thin out the red tape that puts people off doing more for their communities and that holds back innovative small organisations from growth," Lord Hodgson said.
"I hope very much that the sector will not be backward in coming forward to identify areas where bureaucracy can be reduced and make practical recommendations for action - this is their chance."
The measure forms part of the coalition government's agenda to assist in the formation of David Cameron's Big Society.
Business and enterprise minister Mark Prisk said the taskforce's work would follow previous research on helping small businesses and take place alongside Lord Young's health and safety review.
"We need to swing the balance back in favour of entrepreneurial spirit," Mr Prisk explained.
"We want to make sure that charities spend more time on their valuable work to support our communities."
The taskforce's work will also be informed by a review of Gift Aid and Home Office work on the criminal records and vetting and barring regimes, the Cabinet Office said.
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