§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what targets she intends to set to reduce underspend of National Lottery proceeds. [29838]
§ Mr. CabornAround 92 per cent. of the National Lottery Distribution Fund balance is already committed to projects, and money is drawn down from the fund when it is needed and not before. The Department is working closely with the distributing bodies to reduce the distribution fund balance, so that more projects will benefit more quickly from the money the lottery raises for good causes. Distributors are collectively expecting a decline in the balance to £1.6 billion by March 2004.