PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Big Society Network (29 August 2014)

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister authorised the decision to refer the bids from the Big Lottery Fund and the Cabinet Office to the Big Society Network and the Society Network Foundation back to the Social Investment Business.

Asked by:
Lisa Nandy (Labour)

Decisions taken regarding the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund grant to Society Network Foundation, made through the Social Investment Business, were made via the designated decision-making mechanism for this programme – the Minister for Civil Society, supported by the programme’s Advisory Panel.

The Big Lottery Fund is independent from government in its decision-making on specific funding and grant awards, and no Ministers or Cabinet Office officials had any involvement in any decisions taken by them regarding the grants made to the Society Network Foundation or Big Society Network.

Answered by:
Mr Brooks Newmark (Conservative)
5 September 2014