A new Cabinet sub-committee to tackle barriers to service delivery has been welcomed by the third sector.

The Office of the Third Sector (OTS) has invited representatives from eight Whitehall departments including the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Communities and Local Government to join forces with an advisory group of third sector representatives to form a new sub-committee.

The committee has been tasked with removing barriers faced by third sector organisations attempting to win central government public service delivery contracts and will carefully scrutinise the procurement procedures of a range of government departments in order to make them more effective and accessible.

The announcement of the sub-committee has been well received by the third sector.  Peter Kyle, deputy chief executive of Acevo, commented that the creation of the advisory body was a “triumph” and suggested it would have “real clout”.  Ben Kernigham, deputy chief executive of NCVO, also welcomed the committee, but urged them to take relevant and decisive action quickly:

“Voluntary sector organisations have already identified the barriers to their involvement in public service delivery.  We now need the committee to tackle these issues and take appropriate action.”

For further information visit the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) website: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx

Source: Cabinet Office