National Lottery (Hansard, 23 June 1997)

§ 11. Mr. Pearson
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to ensure a fairer distribution of lottery proceeds across the regions. [3094]

§ Mr. Chris Smith
It is clear that some areas of the country have benefited a great dal more from the lottery than others. We will be looking at the reasons for this as part of our review of lottery distribution. We will publish a White Paper containing our proposals in July.

§ 16. Ms Atherton
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to change the terms of the operation of the national lottery. [3099]

§ Mr. Banks
My Department does not have the power to change the terms of operation for the current licence holder. We will seek an efficient and competitive not-for-profit operator when the existing licence expires in 2001.

§ 21. Mr. Spring
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to allow the national lottery to operate overseas; and if he will make a statement. [3105]

§ Mr. Smith
The operator of the national lottery may under the terms of its licence sell tickets in other member states of the European Community and the European Economic Area provided such sales are not prevented by the state's domestic legislation. Ticket sales outside this permitted area are not allowed under the licence. Any change to the licence would require the Director General's consent.

23. Mr. Desmond Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to review the terms of the lottery operator's licence. [3107]

§ Mr. Smith
I have announced our intention to seek an efficient not-for-profit operator when the current licence expires. I do not have the power to change the terms of operation for the current licence holder.

§ Mr. Simon Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the(a) grants of and (b) expenditure of lottery moneys by economic region up until 1 April 1997 (i) in total and (ii) expressed in terms of expenditure per capita in the region. [3185]

§ Mr. Banks
[holding answer 16 June 1997]: A full list of awards is available from the Library of the House. The table sets out the summary of the total number and value of awards by region and country, including a per capita breakdown:
373W

National lottery awards to 31 March 1997

Population Total number of awards Total award amount £ Amount per capita £

North-east 2,607,991 499 125,497,849 48.12

Yorkshire and Humberside 5,035,194 929 200,307,425 39.78

Eastern 5,259,958 969 142,183,266 27.03

East Midlands 4,114,069 820 120,472,373 29.28

West Midlands 5,311,676 1,121 252,515,234 47.54

South-west 4,816,084 1,143 198,923,974 41.30

South-east 7,813,949 1,282 255,618,101 32.71

Merseyside 1,441,000 313 71,045,017 49.30

Total 48,811,646 9,748 2,441,347,667 50.02

Scotland 5,120,200 1,681 366,992,062 71.68

Wales 2,906,500 1,555 180,000,285 61.93

Northern Ireland 1,632,000 941 74,058,147 45.38

Total 9,658,700 4,177 621,050,494 64.30

UK wide 58,470,346 5,580 83,182,384 1.42

Grand total 58,470,346 19,505 3,145,580,545 53.80

¹Population figures are drawn from the Registrar Generals' population projection for 1994 based on the estimated resident population at mid-1991, for County Councils and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys 1993, for Metropolitan areas.

²London figures indicates amount per capita once awards to National institutions are discounted.

National lottery awards to 31 March 1997
	Population	Total number of awards	Total award amount £	Amount per capita £
North-east	2,607,991	499	125,497,849	48.12
Yorkshire and Humberside	5,035,194	929	200,307,425	39.78
Eastern	5,259,958	969	142,183,266	27.03
East Midlands	4,114,069	820	120,472,373	29.28
West Midlands	5,311,676	1,121	252,515,234	47.54
South-west	4,816,084	1,143	198,923,974	41.30
South-east	7,813,949	1,282	255,618,101	32.71
Merseyside	1,441,000	313	71,045,017	49.30
Total	48,811,646	9,748	2,441,347,667	50.02
Scotland	5,120,200	1,681	366,992,062	71.68
Wales	2,906,500	1,555	180,000,285	61.93
Northern Ireland	1,632,000	941	74,058,147	45.38
Total	9,658,700	4,177	621,050,494	64.30
UK wide	58,470,346	5,580	83,182,384	1.42
Grand total	58,470,346	19,505	3,145,580,545	53.80
¹Population figures are drawn from the Registrar Generals' population projection for 1994 based on the estimated resident population at mid-1991, for County Councils and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys 1993, for Metropolitan areas.
²London figures indicates amount per capita once awards to National institutions are discounted.