§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what powers he has to ensure that archives purchased with lottery funds with special reference to the Churchill papers are insured. [2992]
§ Mr. Tony BanksThe Secretary of State's powers in relation to the distribution of lottery funds are contained in the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 and in policy and financial directions. The Government look to distributing bodies to ensure that suitable insurance arrangements apply in respect of lottery-funded projects. For projects relating to archives the relevant distributing body is normally the Heritage Lottery Fund, whose standard grant conditions include a requirement that the property concerned must be appropriately insured. I understand that the Churchill Archive Centre has insured against damage or loss of the Churchill papers and that separate cover is obtained when papers from the collection are exhibited elsewhere.