§ Mr. Denis MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress is being made to ensure that community groups and local authorities in disadvantaged areas receive an increased share of lottery funding. [6298]
§ Mr. CabornThe Government are keen to see a fair distribution of funding throughout the country and has directed distributors to ensure that all parts of the UK have access to lottery funds. In addition, we have asked the community fund to target £100 million of its funds, and the new opportunities fund an additional £50 million to some 50 areas which are both deprived and have received less lottery funding than other parts of the country. The scheme will be UK-wide and will begin in April 2002.