Analysis of consultation responses

In May 2012, we published a consultation Register of charities: a review of information collected from charities.

The aim of the consultation was to seek views on the information that is collected when we register a charity and the information charities submit through the Annual Update and Annual Return. These views will help us ensure that the information we collect and publish is useful to us as a regulator and useful to the public, funders, donors and others with an interest in charities.

We received a total of 103 responses; 81 via an online survey and 22 by email and we have produced an analysis of the responses to the consultation.

What happens next?

We will introduce a small number of changes to the Annual Return for 2013 which we believe will help improve transparency and accountability. The Annual Return for 2013 will be available in January 2013.

In the light of the responses to this consultation and the recommendations made by Lord Hodgson in his report Trusted and Independent: Giving charity back to Charities – Review of the Charities Act 2006, we have decided that a more fundamental review of the information we collect through the Annual Return is needed. This further review will inform any future changes.

This review will take into account:

• the responses we received from the consultation
• the recommendations in Lord Hodgson’s report which relate to information, subject to the Government’s response to the report
• the results of focus groups with the public to examine how they use information about charities and what they want to know

It will also include further consideration of whether or not we should retain the Summary Information Return (SIR). There were mixed views in the responses to the consultation on whether or not the SIR should be retained and we need to explore this further before we make a decision on whether to retain or end the current requirement to submit an SIR.