§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the five beneficiaries who have received the largest sums in lottery grants. [134480]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 26 October 2000]: According to the National Lottery Awards Database the five National Lottery projects which have been awarded the largest sums in Lottery grants are:
- the New Millennium Experience Company;
- the English National Stadium, Wembley;
- the Eastlands Sport City (incorporating the Commonwealth Games Stadium and the United Kingdom Sports Institute North West Network Centre);
- the Royal Opera House. Covent Garden; and
- the Lowry Centre.
§ Mr. Peter AinsworthTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the original deadline was for a decision on the preferred bidder to operate the new National Lottery licence; and when he expects a final decision to be made; [134606]
(2) what steps he is taking to ensure impartiality in the award of the new licence to operate the National Lottery; [134601]
382W(3) if he will make a statement on the award of the new licence to operate the National Lottery. [134599]
§ Mr. Chris Smith[holding answer 26 October 2000]: I appointed Lord Burns to the National Lottery Commission on 12 October 2000 and I gave him a clear remit, with the other Commissioners, to conduct the selection process for the next National Lottery licence with absolute fairness and impartiality between the applicants.
The Commission announced on 25 October 2000 that it is about to begin evaluating both revised bids. It expects to say by mid-November whether the bids meet the statutory criteria of ensuring the Lottery is operated with all due propriety and protecting the interests of players. If the Commission concludes that only one bid meets these criteria, the announcement of the preferred bidder could be made around mid-November.
If the Commission concludes that both bids meet these criteria, then it will consider which bid would secure the greatest returns to good causes. It will do this without preconceptions and without regard to the conclusions it reached on this matter prior to its announcement on 23 August 2000. It would hope to make an announcement of the outcome by mid-December.
The Commission had originally hoped to announce its preferred bidder by the end of June, but subsequently asked the applicants for more information and postponed its announcement until August. On 23 August 2000, the Commission announced that neither of the two bidders met the statutory criteria for the award of the licence.