HC Deb 15 January 2001 vol 361 c25W
Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to amend the provisions of the National Lottery Act 1998 concerning the process of awarding the licence to operate the National Lottery; and if he will make a statement. [145171]

Mr. Chris Smith

I welcome the fact that the National Lottery Commission has reached a decision on the award of the new Lottery licence. In the light of the experience of awarding the new licence, I intend to review the process to see if there is scope for improving the present system. Any such review will not be instituted until all the arrangements for the new licence are completed; as a result, the scope and nature of the review still have to be decided but I envisage that it will have an independent element, and changes to the legislation have not been ruled out.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish details of the bids to operate the National Lottery. [145561]

Mr. Chris Smith

This is a matter for the National Lottery Commission.