§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many responses he has received to the White Paper, "The People's Lottery"; and if he will make a statement. [22125]
§ Mr. Chris SmithI have received responses from nearly 500 organisations and over 90 individuals. The vast majority of these welcomed the Government's proposals for reforming the National Lottery. I have today placed a report summarising the main themes emerging from these responses in the Libraries of both Houses.
The White Paper announced the creation of a new Lottery good cause for health, education and the environment and of the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts. The National Lottery Bill, which was published on 4 December, gives effect to these proposals. The White Paper also committed £1 billion from the Lottery to the new good cause and NESTA by 2001. These funds will be split as follows:
£300 million for training teachers and librarians in the use of new technology, including £50 million for digitising educational and learning materials held in schools and libraries;£300 million for out of school hours activities, with a further £100 million after 2001. £200 million will help local communities set up out of school childcare clubs across the UK, to meet the needs of working parents. £180 million will provide out of school hours learning activities in half of all secondary schools and a quarter of all primary schools. A further £20 million will fund integrated schemes offering childcare and learning;£200 million for healthy living centres, with a further £100 million after 2001, to establish a network designed to serve around 20 per cent. of the population; and£200 million as an endowment for NESTA, sufficient to provide an income which will move NESTA into the top ten grant giving endowment funds in the UK.