§ Mr. David NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make statement about the breach of its 1994–95 running costs limit by the Office of the National Lottery. [24289]
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe gross running cost limit for the Office of the National Lottery within class XI, vote 8 will be decreased by £130,000 from £2,440,000 to £2,310,000. The decrease arises from the imposition of a penalty following the breach of the gross running costs limit in the previous year, 1994–95. Oflot did not exceed its overall cash limit. Running costs were exceeded because of the difficulty in accurately estimating the costs associated with the launch of the national lottery. The Office of the National Lottery has reported that it has reviewed its systems and procedures to prevent a recurrence of the breach.