§ Mr. CaplinTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on his plans to improve the regulation of the National Lottery. [37663]
§ Mr. Chris SmithIt is the Government's intention to ensure that the public has complete confidence in the operation and regulation of the National Lottery. To that end, the National Lottery Bill, which will shortly receive its Second Reading in the House, contains provisions to establish an advisory panel to help the Director General select the operator of the National Lottery.
While this panel would bring collective expertise to the selection of the operator, the final decision would remain in the hands of an individual—the Director General.
I have therefore been considering whether there is more we could do to broaden and strengthen the regulatory structure. I believe that there is a case for establishing a permanent collective body to bring a wider range of expertise and experience to the task of ongoing regulation as well as selection of the operator.
I therefore plan to introduce amendments to the Bill to replace the post of Director General, and the advisory panel, with a National Lottery Commission. The Commission, which will have the same statutory functions 525W and duties as the Director General, will have five members and will be serviced by OFLOT. Its introduction will reduce the risk, actual or perceived, of conflicts of interest and regulatory capture, and remove the focus on an individual, while ensuring that a breadth of knowledge, experience and expertise is brought to bear on the regulation of the National Lottery. The necessary amendments will be introduced before the Bill is considered in Committee.