Select committee: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Conclusion 2
First Report - The Covid-19 crisis and charities
Published 6 May 2020
Paragraph 15
Addressed to Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Impact of Covid-19 on the charity sector All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The committee is concerned at this answer from the Secretary of State, given the scale of the loss the sector is warning of, or the impact it would have on those in society who rely on charities’ support. Moreover, charities are not the same as businesses, and thus to suggest that they should be treated the same ignores the fundamental principles upon which their work is based and the nature of their contribution to society. In particular, it undermines the efforts of the many charity workers whose commitment to serving the public is demonstrated by the efforts they are making, and risks they may be taking, to assist others. Many charities and voluntary organisations perform essential work that, while not directly tackling Covid-19, underpins the fabric of our society. Losing their services in either the short term or after the country emerges from this crisis will cause untold damage to individuals and communities. It cannot be allowed to happen.
From: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, First Report - The Covid-19 crisis and charities (HC 281), paragraph 15, 6 May 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 15 June 2020 (deadline 6 July 2020).