HC Deb 12 June 2000 vol 351 c501W
Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 96W, if he will ask the National Lottery Commission to consult with him before the best course of action in respect of unidentified income is determined by Camelot; and what estimate he has received from Camelot of the number of unidentified prize winners to whom the full amount has not been paid. [125672]

Kate Hoey

This is properly a matter for the National Lottery Commission as the relevant regulatory body and I do not intend to ask it to consult me before reaching its decision. I understand that Camelot estimate that 78,187 players were underpaid by a matter of pounds and 34,897 were overpaid. The total amount underpaid in prizes was £85,974 and the total amount overpaid was £94,380.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 96W, what representations he has received from (a) Camelot and (b) others in respect of the responsibility for the computer defect. [125686]

Kate Hoey

The only representation received by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was from an ex-GTECH employee. Since then he has been kept informed of developments by the National Lottery Commission.

Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 96W; if, when he was informed of the defect in the National Lottery computer, he was told when the defect was identified and by whom; if he was informed of estimates Camelot had made of how long the defect affected its operation before it was corrected; and if he has been informed as to when the National Lottery Commission will complete its investigations. [125673]

Kate Hoey

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was informed when the defect was identified and by whom, and was also informed of how long the defect had affected operations.

The defect was first drawn to the National Lottery Commission's attention in a letter from an ex-GTECH employee on 29 February 2000. The defect affected operations from the start of the Lottery until it was corrected 27 July 1998.

The Commission intend to complete its investigations as soon as possible.