Heritage Lottery Fund (Hansard, 18 May 1998)

Mr. Gareth Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he is taking to ensure equity of distribution between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in the distribution of Heritage Lottery funds. [41450]

§ Mr. Banks
The Government are determined to ensure that Lottery money is allocated more fairly and equitably in the light of need across the whole of the United Kingdom and between different groups in society. The National Lottery Bill requires the Heritage Lottery Fund and the other Lottery distributors to demonstrate in their strategic plans how they will achieve this. The Bill also gives distributors new powers to encourage specific applications which do not come forward spontaneously. In addition, proposed new Policy Directions, drafts of which are in the Libraries of the House, emphasise the need to ensure that all parts of the country have equal access to Lottery funds. These measures should help areas that have benefited less in the past.

Mr. Gareth Thomas
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria the Heritage Lottery Fund uses to decide whether an application has outstanding merit. [41451]

§ Mr. Banks
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) uses seven main criteria to assess applications. These are as followsImportance of the project to the heritage Conservation benefits of the project Access benefits of the project Additional public benefits Quality of design of the project Financial need and viability Strengths of the organisation.
Further information on the assessment process is set out in the HLF's application pack, which has recently been updated. Copies are available in the House Libraries.