Cabinet Office Homepage
12 March 2008
Ed Miliband, Minister for the Cabinet Office, said
"Our continuing drive to create a fairer society lies at the heart of the 2008 Budget - a society in which poverty is reduced, communities can thrive, and individuals are able to use their talents to best effect.
This Budget sees a thriving third sector firmly at the top of the Government's agenda, including a number of specific announcements that will directly benefit the many thousands of charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises in the country.
Today's announcements on Gift Aid seek to build on the success of recent years in increasing the amount of money charities receive through Gift Aid, from £506m to £830m since 2002-03.
As well as a range of measures to simplify the Gift Aid scheme, the Government is providing three years of special financial support to help the sector following changes to income tax. In the years ahead, we will continue to work with the sector to seek to further improve the way Gift Aid can support the sector.
The Government has listened to the sector and in a difficult fiscal climate, has found an extra £300m over three years to support charities. I know this will be money that will make our society fairer and more just.
As well as Gift Aid, today's announcements include a reaffirmation of our commitment to make three-year funding the norm for third sector organisations delivering public services, and a recognition of the important role social enterprises can play in the Government's approach to enterprise."