CHARITY COMMISSION AND THE COMPREHENSIVE SPENDING REVIEW

That this House is concerned by the impact of the 27 per cent. budget cut to the Charity Commission announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR); notes that the Commission shed 63 full-time equivalent jobs before the CSR and that the PCS union fears that a further 140 full-time equivalent jobs will also be lost; recognises the critically important role of the Commission in regulating and advising charities; further notes that fraud in the charitable sector is estimated to be 100 million annually; is deeply concerned at the impact further reductions in staff and resources will have on the Commission's ability to rigorously investigate allegations of fraud, particularly allegations of charitable funds being diverted to organisations with links to terrorism; is alarmed at cuts to the Commision at a time whenthe role of charities will be hugely expanded; and calls upon the Government to review the Charity Commission's budget settlement.