§ 28. Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the distribution of national lottery grants to coalfield communities. [144807]
§ Mr. Chris SmithNational Lottery distributors are working closely with my Department to help coalfield communities, along with other areas of low take-up, receive more benefit from National Lottery money. We commissioned research into the impact of the Lottery on the coalfields, and I established a Coalfields Action Group in June 2000 to take forward the report's recommendations. These include actively encouraging applications from areas of low take-up, introducing more flexible matching fund requirements, making decision-making more transparent, and better co-ordination with other organisations responsible for regenerating coalfields and other low take-up areas. Our data show that the rate of awards to coalfields areas has increased since Government Lottery reforms came into force in August 1998.