§ Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received from(a) Camelot, (b) OFLOT and (c) the National Lottery Commission on the failure of the National Lottery's computer system to award accurate payouts to prize winners; if he will ensure that the National Lottery operator makes good losses of prize money caused by computer failure; and if he will make a statement. [124358]
§ Kate HoeyThe National Lottery Commission (which took over OFLOT's functions on 1 April 1999) has a statutory duty to ensure that the National Lottery is run and promoted with all due propriety, and to protect the interests of players. It has kept officials and, through them, Ministers informed of the defect in the National Lottery software and of its on-going investigations. It will determine the appropriate course of action once all the facts have been established and fully considered, and make a further statement at that time.
I understand that Camelot has already said that it will reimburse the full amount not paid to winners. Where it can identify winners it will pay them direct and, where it cannot, it will liaise with the Commission over the best course of action.