§ 27. Dr. FrancisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many lottery applications have been made in Wales by parliamentary constituency(a) since its inception and (b) since January 2001. [34256]
§ Tessa JowellComprehensive information on applications for lottery grants is not centrally held at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
§ 30. Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on progress being made to improve distribution of lottery funds. [34259]
§ Mr. CabornReforms introduced under the 1998 National Lottery Act, revised policy directions issued to lottery distributors in the same year, and targeted programmes introduced by distributors are designed to improve the distribution of funds and our data show that there has been some improvement. We recognise, however, that there is still more to be done and that is why I have announced a new £150 million initiative to target funds at some 50 areas which are both deprived and have received less lottery funding than other parts of the country. The scheme, which is UK wide, will begin later this year.
§ 31. Paul GogginsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many lottery tickets have been purchased; and what the value is of grant made in Wythenshawe and Sale, East since November 1994. [34260]
§ Tessa JowellNational Lottery tickets sales total just over £35 billion. Since the start of the lottery, 75 awards have been made to Wythenshawe and Sale, East worth just over £5.4 million.