§ Lord Cheshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the good causes (other than the Millennium Commission) of sports, arts, heritage and charities have had their share of the net lottery proceeds reduced to 5 per cent. for 13 weeks; and whether for that 13-week period the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) is to receive 60 per cent. of such proceeds. [HL1556]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyYes. The order was made on 14 February and came into effect on 15 February.
The purpose of this order is to adjust temporarily the shares of National Lottery income to good causes so as to provide the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) with the additional income we have promised it to launch three new initiatives before the end of the year. Because of higher forecast income than originally anticipated, arts, sports, heritage and charities can also expect an additional £50 million over the life of the operator's licence.
At the end of the 13-week period, the share of lottery income for each of the four original good causes will revert to 16⅔ per cent. and NOF's to 13⅓ per cent. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has given guarantees that there will be no further changes to the percentages for those four original good causes up to and beyond the end of the licence.