To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps the Government are taking to reduce the burden of regulation on charities. (304988)

The changes we have made to charity law and accounting and reporting thresholds have resulted in savings for up to 50,000 charities and up to £5 million per year. The new Charitable Incorporated Organisation, planned for next year, will give charities the advantages of incorporation without the burden of dual regulation by both the Charity Commission and Companies House. Departments are also cutting red tape for third sector organisations and will be reporting on further progress later this month. The Government and National Audit Office (NAO) have produced guidance to reduce red tape associated with the £12 billion a year the sector gets from Government. The Government have introduced further measures to facilitate the use of Gift Aid, with particular support for smaller charities, including reforms to simplify the record keeping and auditing process.