HC Deb 14 October 1996 vol 282 cc456-7
14. Mr. Robert G. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many good causes have been awarded funds from the national lottery in London. [37937]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

Some 861 good causes in London have received lottery grants so far. My hon. Friend may be glad to know that eight projects in his constituency have received lottery funds totalling £654,000.

Mr. Hughes

I thank my right hon. Friend for that answer. We are grateful for the aid and look forward to the next eight projects and the eight after that. Does she agree that London is not only the capital of our country but the cultural capital of the world, so big investment in projects in London is very much in our national interest? Does she also agree that the lottery and my right hon. Friend should carry on pumping money into London in our national interest rather than listen to the sneering attitude of too many Labour Members from outside London who do not understand London's place in our national life?

Mrs. Bottomley

I shall speak this evening to the Royal Society of Arts about our heritage and our future and set out Britain's exciting creative position with the present magnificent investment. A third of the population lives in the south-east, so it is understandable that London, as the capital city, should receive substantial sums of lottery money. However, I do not underestimate the significance of investment in Newcastle, Liverpool, Sunderland, Birmingham and Portsmouth. We are now seeing across the nation the remarkable regenerative effects of substantial lottery awards.

Mr. Eastham

Does the Secretary of State consider the Churchill family to be a good cause? I can assure her that my constituents were outraged by the £12 million award to that so-called good cause.

Mrs. Bottomley

There have been a great number of substantial awards; they are part of Britain's heritage. Alongside the large awards are numerous small awards. Some three quarters are for less than £100,000, and they are making a formidable difference. Only the Labour party would wish away our heritage and our inheritance and shred everything that we stand for. We understand that new Labour has no principles and no history.