Lord Nortonasked Her Majesty's Government:
On which occasions and where Virgin have lobbied the National Lottery Commissioners in pursuit of their proposed application to run the National Lottery when the present licence expires on 30 September 2001; and what issues were discussed. [HL4099]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe National Lottery Commission has received no representations from the Virgin Group about the award of the next licence to operate the National Lottery. The Commission has, however, held one meeting with Mr Richard Branson, Chairman of the Virgin Group, in his private capacity, at its offices in London. Mr Branson was one of 14 individuals and organisations who took up the Commission's offer for interested parties to meet and express views on the award of the next licence, prior to the Commission's announcement of its Statement of Main Principles for the selection process.