§ The Marquess of Ailesburyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept that the public was led to believe that 50 per cent. of the National Lottery's receipts would be paid out in prizes every week.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Viscount Astor)Over the course of Camelot's seven-year licence to run the National Lottery, the prize payout percentage is expected to be 56.5 per cent. of net sales after deduction of lottery duty. At current levels of duty (12 per cent. of gross sales) this is indeed equivalent to 50 per cent. of gross sales. The percentage being paid out in different years and on individual games promoted during that period will, however, vary. Almost two million people won prizes in the first two weeks of the lottery.