Central and local government spending on the third sector
The Office of the Third Sector commissioned two reports to estimate central
and local government spending on the voluntary and community sector for the
years 2000/01 to 2003/04.
The reports are the latest in a series starting in 1988/89, and have been
carried out by the Charities Aid Foundation on behalf of the Government.
The estimates are based on responses to surveys of central and local
government departments, and are the best available estimates of
government expenditure on the sector.
The reports show that in 2003/04, central government spending on the sector
was approximately £4.9 billion, and local government spending was estimated
at £4.3 billion.
There has been a substantial rise in central and local government funding
for the sector in recent years, and these figures indicate that a greater
proportion of the total funding is beginning to come through local
government.
Key findings
Local government
-
local government spending on voluntary and community organisations rose
by about 62% in real terms between 2001/02 and 2003/04, from £2.6 billion
to £4.2 billion (both in 2002 prices)
-
local government spending on the sector is estimated to have risen
five-fold since 1984/85
Central government
-
central government spending on voluntary and community organisations
rose by 16% in real terms between 2001/02 and 2002/03, and again (by
12%) in 2003/04 (this includes spending on housing associations)
-
central government spending on the sector has increased by more than
three quarters in real terms since 1998/99
Results in more detail
