Iain Duncan Smith's Social Justice Policy Group has called for the third sector to have a greater role in the delivery of public services in its major policy report Breakthrough Britain.

Expected to guide the Conservative Party’s election policy, the report also recommends the setting up of a dedicated select committee to scrutinise the work of the Office of the Third Sector, and promoting the minister for the office to a Cabinet level post.

Breakthrough Britain also suggests that the Charity Commission should be doing more to prevent charities from holding ‘excessive reserves’.

NCVO chief executive Stuart Etherington welcomed the support the report gave to the umbrella body’s political proposals.

Stephen Bubb, chief executive of Acevo, said he was pleased the report had acknowledged the improved efficiency and outcomes of third sector service delivery. “However, it is important that a growing role for the sector does not equate to a cut in public spending,” he added. “There are questions around the moral emphasis of the proposals. Any move toward funding based on moral principles would be unacceptable to Acevo members.”

A full analysis of the content of the report will be available in the August 2007 issue of Charity Times.