Topical question asked in the House of Commons, by Helen Goodman (Labour). It was answered on Wednesday, 21 March 2012 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Topical Questions

Question: A study by the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations has found that applications by charities for emergency help were highest in the north-east, because the 20 poorest areas suffered 40 times as much reduction in their funding as the 20 richest. A year ago the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, the right hon. Member for West Dorset (Mr Letwin), said that the voluntary sector would"““find that there is access to a large amount of revenue””.—[Official Report, 20 October 2010; Vol. 516, c. 936.]" Has he disappeared because he no longer believes that?

Answer: I deeply regret that it has been necessary for the Government to cut spending in the way that they have. The reason is very simple—the Government of which the hon. Lady was a member left this country with the biggest budget deficit in the developed world.

Secondary information