HC Deb 28 June 1995 vol 262 cc652-3W
Mr. Hardy

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many grants have been provided from the income arising from the national lottery; and if he will state the number of these within each region of the United Kingdom; [30016]

(2) what payments have been made to charities and good causes from the income arising from (a) the national lottery and (b) the associated scratch cards; and what proportion of the income such payments represent. [30029]

Mr. Dorrell

[holding answer 22 June 1995]: The national lottery distribution fund receives a payment from Camelot Group plc each week relation to the sale of both on-line and instant win tickets. A total of £673 million has been raised for the five good causes since the national lottery began in November last year. Of this, £95.5 million— per cent., has been awarded to 486 projects. The awards are listed according to region.

Mr. John M. Taylor

For the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office, there was no change in spending in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative, nor is there likely to be any change in 1995–96. No schemes have been approved to date. There has been no transfer of employment from the public to the private sector since the launch of the private finance initiative in November 1992.

Mr. Betts

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30836]

Mr. Taylor

For the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office, no schemes were approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative. It is possible that one will be approved in the current financial year, though its value cannot be quantified accurately at the present time. Five schemes are being considered currently, but their value cannot yet be quantified accurately. Of those five schemes three have been under consideration and in the assessment process for over six months and two for less than six months.