§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of the national lottery on raising funds to support the development and operation of the hospice movement and hospices; what plans he has to ensure the financial security of hospices; and if he will make a statement. [9280]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThere is as yet no conclusive evidence about the impact of the national lottery on the fund-raising activities of the adult voluntary hospices in Scotland. The Scottish Office will keep in close contact with the Scottish Partnership Agency for Palliative and Cancer Care, which will continue to keep this matter under review. Two hospices have already benefited from the national lottery fund, and we have given an assurance that such funding can be treated independently of the hospices' income from their contracts with health boards.
When my right hon. Friend met representatives of the hospice movement on 21 December 1995 to discuss a number of issues, including finance, he reaffirmed his view that hospices should be able to expect to receive around half of their running cost income through their 805W contracts with health boards; and he recognised the benefits of longer contracts in increasing their financial security.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the introduction of the national lottery upon the fund-raising efforts of charities and voluntary organisations in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [9286]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThere is, as yet, no conclusive evidence concerning the impact of the national lottery on the fund-raising activities of charities and voluntary organisations. However, the Government have given a commitment to monitor charitable income, and The Scottish Office is associated with a Home Office research project which will analyse and monitor changes in charitable income, following the introduction of the national lottery.