§ 11. Mr. IllsleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proposals he has which would increase the distribution of lottery grants to Barnsley. [66770]
§ Mr. Chris SmithI want Lottery money to address the needs of communities across the whole of the United Kingdom. I welcome the National Lottery Charities Board's designation of Barnsley as a priority area for Lottery funding and will follow the progress of this initiative closely. I have also launched with the distributing bodies an investigation into the reasons for low take-up of Lottery funding in coalfield areas.
§ 25. Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received following his meeting with local authorities in Barnsley last autumn when the equalisation of National Lottery grants was discussed; and if he will make a statement. [66784]
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§ Mr. Chris SmithRepresentatives from the coalfields areas have confirmed the need for action to address the problems these areas face in obtaining Lottery funding and have supported the measures announced at the Coalfields Lottery Conference to address the balance.
I welcome the National Lottery Charities Board's designation of Barnsley as a priority area for Lottery funding and will follow the progress of this initiative closely. I have also launched with the distributing bodies an investigation into the reasons for low take-up of Lottery funding in coalfield areas.