At a lively pre election debate - in a bunker at the cabinet war rooms last night - shadow children's minister Tim Loughton pledged Tory support for the voluntary sector, calling for a "level playing field".
Responding to a question from the floor, about how the voluntary sector would be supported and funded in the future, Loughton - of recent channel 4 fame - was quick off the mark.
"If voluntary agencies can show their positive track record, we'll give them the tools and the funding with minimal interference; a long-term commitment so that they can work with local authorities and not as second class citizens, as [they are often treated]."
Loughton said it was a "false economy" not to fund services which can prove their efficacy -something which many will feel applies to struggling voluntary adoption agencies. Loughton also revealed that the Tories would be publishing a "comprehensive report" on adoption next week. (So watch Community Care's news pages for that).
Baroness Delyth Morgan, also on the panel, said that central government had been investing in commissioning programmes "to get local authorities to commission services better".
Morgan said she was "absolutely clear" that local authorities should not be funding voluntary organisations on a "hand to mouth basis". She said she had written to local authorities to encourage them to use voluntary adoption agencies, after DCSF funded research showed that they were "just as cost effective as local authorities."
"I am very worried about going back to a time when voluntary organisations struggled for recognition," Morgan said. She highlighted the voluntary sector Compact as an example of good practice, but said it was "staggering how long it takes to change practice throughout the country."
Also on the panel at the event - hosted by children's charities TACT, BAAF, Voice and the Who Cares? Trust - were Annette Brooke, Lib Dem shadow children's minister, and the unstoppable campaigner and broadcaster David Akinsanya.
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