MPs launch inquiry into Cameron's Big Society

THE government will come under more pressure over David Cameron's attempt to create a "Big Society" ethos, after a Commons committee announced it is to hold an inquiry into the policy.

Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the public administration select committee, announced the move at Prime Minister's Question Time. It comes in a week when the government has been forced to relaunch the Big Society, which was a key part of the Conservative manifesto.

The Scotsman's sister paper, Scotland on Sunday, revealed that senior figures in Downing Street, including special adviser Steve Hilton, have had grave concerns the Big Society is not being understood.

Mr Hilton had a conversation before Christmas with the academic whose work underpins the concept of the Big Society, Phillip Blond, where the two agreed that changes were needed. This week has seen the creation of the Big Society Bank, as well as the unveiling of schemes in England; however, it is understood the government also wants to have a version of the Scottish Parliament's 2003 Land Reform Bill, which introduced community ownership of land.

This would allow communities to buy post offices, shopping centres or pubs. It could also be used for a community buy-out of the Dover ferry port.