§ Mr. PopeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the finances of the Football Trust. [2835]
§ Mr. SproatSince 1990 the Government have made £138 million available to the Football Trust to grant aid clubs' ground development projects, through a reduction in pool betting duty that the pools companies pass on to the trust. The trust's income from this source has fallen since the introduction of the national lottery. From last May, the trust has benefitted from a further;½ per cent. reduction in pool betting duty worth up to £3 million per year.