Number 10 prioritises Compact
Prime Minister seeks to make the agreement a cross-government priority
The Prime Minister’s office has made the Compact one of six key cross-cutting themes that all government departments must report on in their business plans, according to Nick Hurd, the Minister for Civil Society.
Hurd announced the news at yesterday’s meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Civil Society and Volunteering.
Cross-cutting themes are priorities identified by Number 10 that Whitehall departments should adopt in their plans in addition to their own departmental priorities.
Hurd said Number 10 had commissioned all departments to refresh their plans for 2012/13, with a view to publishing them in the spring.
He said the Office for Civil Society had been working with No 10 on the renewal process, championing the Compact - the code on relations between the public and voluntary sectors.
Tom Elkins, manager of Compact Voice, which represents the voluntary sector on the Compact, described the news as "very positive and encouraging".
He said it gave Compact Voice the opportunity of ongoing dialogue with government departments on how they can embed the Compact.
"We can use our expertise to help them demonstrate they are delivering on the Compact," said Elkins.
