VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Civil Society: Finance

Asked by Clive LewisLabourMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 24 June 2025UIN 60525

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of setting a percentage target spend to be allocated to the VCSE sector in future guidance to (a) mayors and (b) unitary authorities.

Answered by Jim McMahon

The Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025-26 makes available over £69 billion for local government, which is a 6.8% cash terms increase in councils’ Core Spending Power on 2024-25. The majority of funding within scope of the Local Government Finance Settlement is un-ringfenced in recognition that local leaders are best placed to identify local priorities, for example investing in their Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sectors.

Similarly, the funding for Mayoral Strategic Authorities does not include a target spend for the VCSE sector. Mayors are best placed to decide how to use their resources to deliver outcomes and best serve their communities.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim