Policy

7 July, 2008

Compact Commissioner calls for debate on future of the Compact

'Significant rewriting and enhancement needed'

Sir Bert Massie CBE, Commissioner for the Compact, speaking today at a seminar organised by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO), called for a debate on the future of the Compact and the role of the Commission for the Compact.

In his speech, Sir Bert Massie CBE said -

'Depending to whom I listen, the Compact is one of these: a waste of time and space; a good idea but the documents are out of date and becoming irrelevant; fine as it is - but the government needs to meet its commitments more of the time; only worth keeping if backed by statutory powers.

...It is difficult to escape the conclusion that significant rewriting and enhancement is needed if the Compact is to see us through the next ten years. The Compact was always meant to be an evolving agreement which changed in response to the changing world, while keeping faith with the enduring principle that underpin it.'

Sir Bert Massie's initial views on the Compact include:

  • Significant rewriting of the Compact to revise and enhance it
  • Consider incorporating all the Codes into one single document with the possibility of adding new topics
  • Updating the BME Code to reflect recent changes in legislation and wider development in thinking on equalities
  • Undertaking wide consultation on the future of the Compact and the Commission for the Compact over the coming months, particularly regarding statutory powers.

Although Sir Bert was 'warm to idea of a statutory remedy', he was more cautious when he analysed what it would mean in practice. He mentioned that a new statutory Compact would have to be agreed by every government department before it became law and expressed concern that it could be a weaker document than the present Compact. He also asked if the law would apply only to the public sector, or if it would be two-sided and impose legal obligations on the third sector organisations.

On the role of the Commission for the Compact, his views include:

  • The government establishing the Commission as a statutory corporation
  • The Commission being given powers to investigate breaches of the Compact, resolve disputes and publish regular reports on the health of the Compact
  • The Commission's structure to include a full research team.

For more information, see the Commission for the Compact press release Compact Commissioner calls for debate on the future of the Compact and Commission.

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