HL Deb 02 February 2005 vol 669 cc48-9WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What are the stated priorities of each regional body distributing lottery money throughout the United Kingdom; and whether such priorities are consistent throughout the country. [HL997]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Individual lottery distributors make their decisions on awards independently of Government, but taking into account policy and financial directions issued by DCMS.

Distributors develop funding programmes and identify their national priorities for funding after consultation. Many distributors also set regional priorities following local consultation and these, naturally, vary from region to region.

We do not hold centrally information on the priorities for each region of each distributor. I have asked chief executives of the relevant lottery distributors to write to the noble Baroness and I will arrange for copies of the letters to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.