§ 2.54 p.m.
§ Lord Donoughue asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether they are satisfied that the five bodies designated to distribute proceeds of the National Lottery have in place administrative structures and procedures competent to execute that task.
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the 11 bodies selected to distribute the proceeds from the National Lottery to good causes will execute the task competently. The distributing bodies have kept my department and the other departments with lottery responsibilities closely informed about the development of their systems. The bodies will be required to have their systems certified by the National Audit Office before they will be allowed to draw down lottery money to make grants.
§ Lord DonoughueMy Lords, I thank the Minister for choosing that reply from among the many hundreds that she has there with her. But it is a gentle day today. Is she aware of the widespread concern about when or whether the bodies will be in full administrative order to handle the vast sums of patronage which will pass through them? I say that bearing in mind that the Charities Board has let it be known that it will not be ready for about a year, that the Sports Council is still subject to a major reorganisation and that the Millennium Commission, as we discussed last week, is in disarray after the sacking of its director general.
Perhaps I may ask the Minister two specific questions, which will be helpful to the people in the field, about science and about sport. The Minister in another place said yesterday that science projects might be major beneficiaries of the lottery funds, and that is an excellent thing. But can the noble Baroness tell us and the science world which of the distributing bodies will handle science projects, since it is not clear that any of them is specifically qualified in that area? Secondly, on sport, the Minister has announced a new policy for the Sports Council and sport whereby only a few core sports will be 767 supported by the Sports Council. Is it the case that only a few core sports will benefit from the lottery, or will the Sports Council hand out lottery money to sports but not hand out normal money to them?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, first, the Millennium Commission is not in disarray. Progress towards distributing funds from the lottery is proceeding very well. All the distributing bodies, with the exception of the National Lottery Charities Board, will be issuing guidance to applicants by 1st December and inviting applications from 4th January. The Charities Board is carrying out extensive consultations with the voluntary sector and will issue its guidance after that process is completed.
With regard to science projects, it would depend on the nature of the project. It may be possible for science projects to apply for funding to the Millennium Commission or, if there is a voluntary sector input, to the Charities Board. The Millennium Commission will be issuing guidance to applicants on 28th November.
The noble Lord asked about core sports. No, the Sports Council will focus its grant in aid more narrowly in future, but the National Lottery proceeds will be distributed where expenditure is connected with sport.
The Earl of GowrieMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the Arts Council and the regional arts boards have procedures in place and are raring to go and that it only remains for my noble friend to urge your Lordships and your friends and relations to buy your lottery tickets?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, I am extremely grateful to my noble friend, who seems to have done a lot of my work for me.
§ Lord ReaMy Lords, can the noble Baroness tell us up to what value the tickets have been printed so far?
§ Baroness TrumpingtonMy Lords, tickets are £1 each and there will be enough to go around.