§ 2. Ms Ann Coffey (Stockport)If he will make a statement on the changes introduced by the Lottery Act 1998. [98968]
§ The Minister for Sport (Kate Hoey)The Act has allowed lottery distributors to be more proactive in making grants, to work more co-operatively and to allow decisions to be made closer to the grass roots. Distributors have produced strategic plans for their use of lottery money that will allow them to assess the extent to which their objectives are being met.
§ Ms CoffeyMy hon. Friend will be aware that Stockport has benefited from more than £5 million of lottery funding, which has helped with major projects such as the Hatting museum. We look forward to help in due course with the renovation of Hollywood park. I welcome the increase in small grants from the lottery, which has benefited projects such as the Stockport and district mental health and arts project, which is an innovative and creative scheme that will improve the quality of life for the whole community. Can she assure me that the small grants programme will continue to increase for the benefit of small community groups?
§ Kate HoeyAccording to my figures, Stockport has had £6 million of lottery money: slightly up on my hon. Friend's estimate. I agree that small community grants are important. They are crucial to ensure that small community organisations can benefit from the lottery. One of the most important things that we intend to do is to make it as easy and simple as possible, while assuring accountability, for those groups to apply for the money.
§ Mr. Andrew Rowe (Faversham and Mid-Kent)Is it not true that the distributors are now supposed to take much more account of policy directions from the Secretary of State? Is not that in clear contradiction to the need for charitable and voluntary organisations to innovate and experiment? I thought that that was what the national lottery was primarily intended for. Is the Minister happy with the direction that is being taken?
§ Kate HoeyThe directions would allow the innovation to which the hon. Gentleman refers. We are trying to move away from big spending on huge bricks and mortar projects and to concentrate on ensuring that lottery money 327 goes towards making a real difference for people and communities. It is important that the distributors can now look at where the money has not been going and ask why, and try to go out and find the projects, working with and supporting people to ensure that all areas of the country benefit in the same way.
§ Mr. Gordon Marsden (Blackpool, South)Is it not important to consider the money that is going into communities, and especially greenfield communities? May I also make a plea for the inclusion of seaside towns in the new opportunities fund?
§ Kate HoeyMy hon. Friend may be aware that the green spaces initiative under the new opportunities fund should allow constituencies such as his to benefit.