§ 9. Mr. Ben Chapman (Wirral, South)When the national lottery New Opportunities Fund will start to finance out-of-school-hours clubs. [41995]
§ The Minister for Film and Tourism (Mr. Tom Clarke)Subject to parliamentary approval of the National Lottery Bill, the New Opportunities Fund is likely to invite applications for the £400 million of funding for out-of-school-hours activities early in 1999.
§ Mr. ChapmanI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that response. I greatly welcome the National Lottery Bill and the New Opportunities Fund, which provide for a fairer geographical distribution of lottery moneys—Wirral, South has fared particularly badly in that respect—but this is an important programme, and early next year seems a long way off. Will my hon. Friend consider what steps he can take to bring forward the programme—pilot applications, for example?
§ Mr. ClarkeIt is perfectly possible that pilot applications will be considered. I well understand my hon. Friend's arguments, which he put to the House very forcefully on 7 April and which we have taken into account. The policy directions that my right hon. Friend is issuing to all distributors will emphasise the importance of funding reaching all parts of the country. I hope that my hon. Friend will feel that he has made his point.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold)Does the Minister not recognise that the £400 million of lottery money that will now be spent on out-of-school-hours clubs should come out of Government taxation and that, if the trend continues, the original five causes, which include charities and the arts, are bound to have their money reduced. How much further will the process go?
§ Mr. ClarkeThe hon. Gentleman must know that those hoary old arguments were totally exposed on Second Reading and in Committee. The Prime Minister said before the election that we do not believe it would be right to use lottery money to pay for things which are the Government's responsibility. The policy that we are pursuing, with the overwhelming support of those who were consulted, is in addition and means that we can embrace social problems and social inclusion—issues which might be of interest to the hon. Gentleman.