Reforming the Legal and Regulatory Framework

- taking forward the Strategy Unit Review ‘Private Action, Public Benefit’

Welcome to the home page describing the Commission’s work in support of reform to the legal and regulatory framework within which charities in England and Wales operate.

In 2002 the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit carried out a wide-ranging review of the legal and regulatory framework of the not-for-profit sector, of which charities form the major part. The review’s objectives were to:

• enable existing and new not-for-profit organisations to thrive and grow;
• to encourage the development of new types of organisation; and
• to ensure public confidence in the sector

The result of this review was a report, ‘Private Action, Public Benefit’, published on 25 September 2002, and containing a number of recommendations, some of which required legislation. The Government published its response to these recommendations in July 2003, and on 26 November 2003 the publication of a draft Charities Bill was announced in the Queen’s Speech.

The links below lead to:

• The report, ‘Private Action, Public Benefit’, the report and subsequent developments;
• Progress by the Commission on recommendations not requiring legislation
• Progress on a draft Charities Bill