• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About DNS
  • Subscribe to DNS
  • Advertise with DNS
  • Support DNS
  • Contact DNS

Disability News Service

the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues

  • Home
  • Independent Living
    • Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Employment
    • Housing
    • Transport
  • Activism & Campaigning
  • Benefits & Poverty
  • Politics
  • Human Rights
You are here: Home / News Archive / Government gagging clauses ‘are threatening independent voices’

Government gagging clauses ‘are threatening independent voices’

By guest on 2nd January 2012 Category: News Archive

Listen

The former head of the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) has warned that the independent voices of disability organisations could be under threat because of gagging clauses attached to government contracts.

Sir Bert Massie, who chaired the DRC throughout its seven years, said it was “worrying” that the government was “gagging” organisations that have signed contracts to provide services.

He pointed to the “superb” Responsible Reform report – published this week by disabled activists – which accused the government of misleading parliament over disability living allowance reform, as a demonstration of why the voluntary sector’s independence was so important.

He said that any charity that decided it was unable to produce such a report because of the risk of annoying the government had immediately been “compromised” by signing a contract to provide services.

He said: “People need to be conscious of this. Independence is very precious. It disappears incrementally.”

Sir Bert said that smaller disabled people’s organisations needed to be just as aware of the threat as the larger national disability charities.

He was speaking as the Panel on the Independence of the Voluntary Sector, of which he is a member, produced the first of five annual reports.

The panel said there were “real and present” risks to the independence of the voluntary sector, with the threat heightened as a result of public spending cuts and changes in the way contracts are awarded, while local voluntary organisations “may lack the resources and capacity to assert their independence” in such situations.

They also warned of a “blurring of boundaries” between the public, private and voluntary sectors, which could “dilute” the independence of charities, and lead to some of them becoming “fearful of using their voice”.

Sir Bert pointed to the drift towards charities being funded by contracts for service-provision, rather than by government grants, and warned of the “temptation to dilute your principles to ensure survival”.

He said: “It seemed to us that quite clearly there is a risk to independence of some of the activities that these charities are engaging in.”

He accused the government of forcing charities that signed such contracts to promise not to criticise government policy.

He said: “First of all, it is not the government’s money. You should be quite free to criticise the government because that is part of the democratic process.”

He added: “It is worrying that the government believe it is their money which can only be used to promote their policies and the price is to gag the organisation. People should be free to speak. A strong government should not be afraid of being criticised.”

The panel closely examined arrangements under the government’s Work Programme, in which it said voluntary organisations have ended up as sub-contractors to private sector companies, with limited influence over the “quantity or quality of their work”.

10 January 2012 

Share this post:

Share on X (Twitter)Share on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on RedditShare on LinkedIn
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Related

‘Muddled’ blue badge reforms ‘are to blame for renewal delays’
6th February 2015
UN debate will be reminder of true inclusive education
6th February 2015
IDS breaks pledge on PIP waiting-times, as tens of thousands still queue for months
30th January 2015

Primary Sidebar

On the left of the image are multiple heads of different colours - white, aqua, red, light brown, and dark green - all grouped together, then the words ‘Campaign for Disability Justice. Sign up to support. #OpportunitySecurityRespect’
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Access

Latest Stories

‘Disastrous’ cuts bill that leaves legacy of distrust and distress ‘must be dropped’

Four disabled Labour MPs stand up to government over cuts to disability benefits

Silence from MP sister of Rachel Reeves over suicide linked to PIP flaws, just as government was seeking cuts

Disabled people receiving care were ‘ignored by design’ during the pandemic, Covid inquiry hears

Disabled activists warn Labour MPs who vote for cuts: ‘The gloves will be off’

GB News says it has nothing to apologise for, after guest suggests starving disabled benefit claimants

SEND inspections find services in just one in four areas usually lead to ‘positive’ outcomes for disabled children

Disabled MP who quit government over benefit cuts tells DNS: ‘The consequences will be devastating’

Disabled peers plan to ‘amend, amend, amend, amend, amend’ after assisted dying bill reaches Lords

Minister finally admits that working-age benefits spending is stable, despite months of ‘spiralling’ claims

Advice and Information

Readspeaker
A photograph shows an audience raising their hands in a BSL sign. The words say: 'BSL Conference 2025. The future starts with us. Leeds 17-18 July. Be part of shaping the future of Deaf cultures and identities. Get 10% off with BDA10'

Footer

The International Standard Serial Number for Disability News Service is: ISSN 2398-8924

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site map
  • Bluesky
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Threads
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 Disability News Service

Site development by A Bright Clear Web