§ 25. Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement about the operation of the national lottery.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Director General of the National Lottery regulates the operations of the licensed operator, Camelot plc, and would be happy to write to the hon. Member about any operational matters he wishes to raise.
§ 26. Mrs. Jane KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to monitor expenditure patterns by households and individuals on national lottery tickets.
§ Mr. DorrellI have no plans to do so at present.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the latest number of bids received under the millennium fund; how much he envisages will be available for such projects; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe Millennium Commission will be inviting applications from 4 January 1995. The commission has already received notification of over 300 potential millennium projects and there have been 4,000 requests for application forms. According to Camelot's forecasts, the Millennium Commission could receive around £1.6 billion between now and 31 December 2000.
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§ Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many outlets that have been approved by Camelot for the sale of national lottery tickets remain unconnected to the national lottery ticket sale system; and whether these outlets will be compensated by Camelot for loss of revenue.
§ Mr. DorrellThis is an operational matter for Camelot Group plc. I have therefore asked Peter Davis, the Director-General of the National Lottery, who is responsible for regulating the operation of the lottery, to write to the hon. Member, placing copies of his response in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. AingerTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his best estimate of the funding that will flow from the national lottery to assist sport and the arts in 1995–96.
§ Mr. DorrellOn the basis of forecasts prepared by Camelot Group plc when it submitted its application for the licence to run the national lottery, I estimate that £750 million will be paid to the national lottery distribution fund in 1995–96. As specified in section 22 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, each of the five good causes—including sport and the arts—will receive 20 per cent. of the sum remaining in the national lottery distribution fund after expenses have been deducted. This could amount to some £150 million for each sector.