David Cameron believes that the voluntary sector has a greater role to play in dispensing social justice.

The Conservative leader made his comments shortly after delivering a speech on the topic at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

Speaking to BBC Radio Four’s ‘The World at One’, he embraced the prospect of voluntary sector expansion, but warned that doing so threatened to undermine the independence of such public services.

“Step back for a minute and ask yourself, you know, when it comes to homelessness, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, family breakdown, what are some of the best bodies doing the most creative work to do with these entrenched social problems?” he asked.

“And I would argue often it is voluntary bodies and social enterprises and so we ought to trust them more,” Mr Cameron continued, suggesting that some such groups should be charged with running specific social services.

He argued that Britain should move away from “centralised” state welfare toward “social welfare” where voluntary enterprises were encouraged to run more of the programmes that made an impact.

The Tory leader highlighted the “amazing work” done by the Big Issue. The publication gave the homeless a “chance to get off the streets, to make money and to actually start life again”, he said.