§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the types of contravention of the conditions of the operator's licence which would lead to the imposition of a financial penalty under section 2 of the National Lottery Bill [Lords]. [21119]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe Government agree with the view expressed by the Committee of Public Accounts that the Director General of the National Lottery should have the full range of powers to deal with any contraventions of the licence conditions by holders of licences issued under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. Under clause 2 of the National Lottery Bill [Lords], it will be for the Director General to decide whether any particular breach warrants a financial penalty. In making his decision, the Director General may have regard to the desirability of deterring future contraventions and of recovering any diminution in the amount paid to the good causes that is attributable to the breach.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what directions he plans to give to the Lottery Advisory Panel under Clause 1 of the National Lottery Bill [Lords]. [21121]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe functions of the Lottery Advisory Panel on selection will be to advise and assist the Director General of the National Lottery in the selection of the operator for the National Lottery. I will issue the Panel with directions relating to its performance of that function and to its proceedings. The National Lottery Bill [Lords] requires me to consult with the Director General on any directions I might issue, and I will also provide the House with copies of these.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if(a) the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts and (b) the New Opportunities Fund will be under direct control. [21112]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe Bill currently before Parliament which would establish the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts ("NESTA") and the New Opportunities Fund received its First Reading in another place on Wednesday 3 December.
Under the Bill, NESTA will be an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Bill establishes NESTA's objects, but its Trustees will be free to determine their own policies to meet those objects. NESTA will be required to publish a forward plan from time to time and to prepare an Annual Report and Accounts. Its Accounts will be audited by the National Audit Office and laid before Parliament, together with the Annual Report.
The New Opportunities Fund will also be an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Fund will operate within the framework set by the legislation establishing it and the directions issued to it by the Secretary of State. The Fund will be free to set its own policies and procedures in order to take forward the 406W initiatives it is to fund, which will be determined by the Government and Parliament following widespread consultation, and will take its own decisions on grants. The Fund will be required to publish a strategy and prepare an Annual Report and Accounts. The Accounts will be audited by the National Audit Office and laid before Parliament, together with the Annual Report.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the membership of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts. [21024]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe Bill currently before Parliament which would establish the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts ("NESTA") received its First Reading in another place on Wednesday 3 December.
NESTA will consist of no more than 15 Trustees, including a Chairman. They will be appointed by the Secretary of State after wide consultation with professional bodies and organisations working in the fields of science, technology and the arts.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the membership of the New Opportunities Fund. [21023]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe Bill establishing the New Opportunities Fund received its First Reading in another place on Wednesday 3 December.
The Bill currently before Parliament provides that the Fund will consist of between eight and 12 members plus a chairman. They will be appointed by the Secretary of State for their expertise in a wide variety of fields—in particular health, education and the environment—and their experience in areas such as grant making, the voluntary sector and business. Four of the Fund's members will be persons who appear to the Secretary of State to be suited to make the interests of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively their special care.
§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the criteria by which the strategic plans which distributing bodies will be required to produce will be judged. [21115]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe National Lottery Bill [Lords] providing for the production of strategic plans by Lottery distributors received its First Reading in another place on 3 December. Plans will be drawn up by distributors following wide consultation. The content and format are matters for the distributors themselves to decide, subject to requirements set out in Clause 11 of the Bill.