§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for what reason he has not dismissed the National Lottery Commissioners who were in post at the time of the decision which resulted in the resignation of the Chairman of the Commission. [136243]
§ Mr. Chris SmithI have no grounds for dismissing the National Lottery Commissioners. The former Chairman of the National Lottery Commission, Dame Helena Shovelton, resigned from the Commission for personal reasons. I appointed Lord Burns to take her place on the Commission, and gave him a clear remit, alongside the other Commissioners, to conduct the selection process with absolute fairness and impartiality between the applicants. The Government have every confidence in their ability to do so.