HC Deb 01 April 1996 vol 275 cc69-70W
17. Mr. Roy Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what research has been conducted by her Department on the effect on the finances of households of investing in the national lottery. [21908]

Mr. Sproat

My Department has commissioned surveys of spending on the national lottery and is also analysing other relevant surveys, such as the Central Statistical Office's family expenditure survey 1994–95. These surveys provide a breakdown of the total spending on the national lottery, which from the sales figures can be seen to be equivalent to around £2 a household a week, net of prizes.

Mr. David Nicholson

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement about the development of policy on the distribution of lottery proceeds. [24290]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I have today issued to the chairman of the lottery distributing bodies changes to policy directions I intend to make under section 26 (1) and (2) of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993.

These changes will allow the arts councils to consider applications for revenue funding to help to develop talents, skills and creative abilities, particularly of young people; and to consider applications for lottery grants to fund access to and participation in the arts. They will allow the sports councils likewise to consider applications for revenue funding to help to develop sporting talent and skills, particularly of young people; and to consider applications for the funding of one-off major international sporting events. Finally, they will allow the national heritage memorial fund to consider applications for grants from building preservation trusts.

None of these directions is intended to promote awards which might substitute for existing funding through grant in aid. The Millennium Commission and the National Lottery Charities Board are already able to make revenue awards and are not affected by these proposals. My colleagues in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be writing today in similar terms to the distributing bodies for which they are responsible.

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