The bill will enable a limited number of new powers and duties to be given to the Commission, including powers of investigation where there have been breaches of Compact agreements, access to relevant information and the ability to impose a duty on others to co-operate with its investigations.

Currently the Commission for the Compact has no legal obligation to report on its work. And whilst it can advise on good practice, it cannot hold partners to account where the Compact is not working.

A consultation exercise last summer showed that there was strong support for placing the Commission for the Compact on a statutory basis. This would give it the powers needed to secure better implementation of the Compact.

Levitt said: “It has been widely recognised that the Commission needs statutory powers. Not only would this give the Compact more weight but I believe it would also strengthen the current relationship Government has with the voluntary sector.”

Oliver Reichardt, head of the Compact Team, NCVO added: “This is a great opportunity to cement the importance of the Compact in the relationship between the two sectors.”

The Bill has the support of key ministers, NCVO, Compact Voice, the Commission itself and a cross party group of MPs.