HL Deb 07 January 2003 vol 642 c198WA
Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What discussions have been held by Ministers or officials to consider a merger of the New Opportunities Fund with the Community Fund: and [HL877]

On what basis they would consider merging the New Opportunites Fund with the Community Fund: and what legislation would be required to enable such a merger to take place. [HL878]

Baroness Blackstone

Discussions have taken place with the two distributors in the context of proposals in our recent consultation paper on making the delivery of lottery funding more efficient and effective. No decisions have been taken and legislative implications need to be further explored. Whatever the outcome the share of lottery funds going to charities will remain until at least 2009 and the independence of lottery distributors in making decisions on individual applications will be preserved.