§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate he has of(a) the net level of gambling each week, (b) the proportion of national lottery stakes that might go to good causes or in taxation and (c) the level of spending on the national lottery that would be required to produce £20 million for good causes and taxation.
§ Mr. BrookeOverall responsibility for gambling, excluding the national lottery, rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. On question(a), I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North (Mr. Wilson) on 9 November 1992 at cols. 632–33.
(b) The proportion available for good causes will depend on the exact level of prizes considered appropriate, on the projected costs of operating the lottery, and on the level of tax. Taxation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
(c) The turnover required to produce any given amount for taxation and good causes will depend on (b).