What's happening

Today David Cameron announces the launch of Big Society Capital, a £600m institution designed to create a market in social investment and make it easier for charities, social enterprises and community groups to access affordable finance. Civil society minister Nick Hurd also attends

Today William Hague makes a speech at the Foreign Office about the UK's consular services

Today Climate change minister Greg Barker sets out details on suppliers for the green deal, a government initiative designed to support the implementation of energy efficiency measures

9.30 The RMT union holds a protest at Preston Crown Court over government plans to implement the McNulty Rail Review

10.30 Scottish first minister Alex Salmond visits Kilmarnock College, where he outlines plans for a new campus on the former Diageo site

19.00 Alistair McGowan hosts a special comedy fundraiser at the Leicester Square Theatre in aid of the Green Party

19.00 Dr David Halpern, director of behavioural insight at No 10 and the Cabinet Office, delivers the Ebor Lecture at York University on 'the hidden wealth of nations'

What's been said

The chill winds of real austerity have yet to bite, says Ben Chu in The Independent

Ignore the volume of noise from a cynical news storm over pasties and fuel - it was a good fortnight for the government, says Simon Jenkins in The Guardian

The Tories’ current travails are more fundamental than a single bad week of news reveals, says Daniel Finkelstein in The Times (£)

Bad luck and idiocy have undermined the Tories’ case for shared economic hardship, says Benedict Brogan in the Daily Telegraph