MP 'astonished' at lack of Big Society answers

THE government's commitment to the Big Society and to getting spending under control has been questioned after several departments admitted they had no idea of how many contracts they have awarded to charities.

In written answers to Glasgow Central Labour MP Anas Sarwar, the Treasury, Ministry of Defence and Home Office all said they were unable to provide answers on the number of contracts they have awarded to the voluntary sector.

Vince Cable's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that it did not hold the information centrally and that it would be too expensive to provide an answer.

The admissions came days before the publication of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), when departments will be expected to have worked out ways of slashing their budgets by up to 40 per cent.

Mr Sarwar said: "I find it astonishing that ministers are unable to tell me what contracts were given to the voluntary sector in the last two years."