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Big Society Agenda

As a former Minister for Social Development in Northern Ireland, with direct responsibility for the voluntary and community sector, I am only too well aware that the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland is probably one of the biggest in western Europe and helped to sustain Northern Ireland at a time when we were in very serious conflict. However, I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree with me that the cuts that will bear down on organisations in the voluntary and community sector as a result of the reduction in the block grant will impact on the quality of the work that they do, although not necessarily on their desire or their objective to carry out that work. Does he also agree with me that there must be a reflection of the delicate political architecture that exists in Northern Ireland, that that must not be interfered with and that we in Northern Ireland have strenuously participated in community economic regeneration groups with the direct purpose of upholding our local communities?