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The bidding culture that blights the voluntary sector would be a thing of the past should the Conservatives come to power.

David Willetts, shadow secretary for work and pensions and welfare reform, said the number of different grants voluntary groups were expected to bid for in order to survive was "out of control".

He added that he had encountered people in the sector who were "like hardened Las Vegas gamblers" because of the length of time they spent applying for grants.

Willetts hoped he would be able to provide money to groups prepared to admit it was for traditional work rather than projects that are reinvented in order to obtain the cash.