Cameron unveils 'Big Society'

Prime Minister David Cameron has denied that his "Big Society" agenda is a cover for public service cuts.

Mr Cameron kick-started the initiative with the announcement that community projects in four parts of the country are to be given help, saying: "For years, there was the basic assumption at the heart of Government that the way to improve things in our society was to micro-manage from the centre, from Westminster. But that just does not work.

"We need to create communities with umph, neighbourhoods who are in charge of their own destinies, who feel if they club together and get involved they can shape the world around them."

The Government claims the Big Society scheme will represent "the biggest, most dramatic redistribution of power" from the State to individuals.

But some have criticised the project as a way of masking cuts by offloading state work to the voluntary sector. Mr Cameron, however, has rejected those claims.