§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on the award of the next licence to run the National Lottery. [141412]
§ Mr. Chris SmithThe award of the next National Lottery operating licence is a matter for the National Lottery Commission. The commission will make its decision on the criteria set out in section 4 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (as amended): ensuring that the National Lottery, and every lottery that forms part of it, is operated with all due propriety; ensuring that the interests of every participant in a lottery that forms part of the National Lottery are protected; and, subject to satisfying those two criteria, maximising the net proceeds of the Lottery for good causes.
I understand that the Commission hopes to announce the outcome of the bidding process for the next licence later this month.