Oral Answers to Questions

Brendan O'Hara Excerpts

Thursday 7th March 2019 Commons Chamber

[Brendan O’Hara (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)]

4. What the timetable is for the Government’s response to the consultation on society lottery reform.

[Sir Henry Bellingham (North West Norfolk) (Con)]

5. When he plans to respond to the consultation on the reform of the regulation of society lotteries.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Mims Davies)]

I am carefully considering the evidence submitted during the consultation, and I hope to respond in the first half of this year.

[Brendan O’Hara]

Despite many warm words stretching back over several years, the Government have shown a distinct lack of urgency in considering the future of society lotteries. It has now been six months since the consultation closed and, all the while, charities and good causes are losing desperately needed funds. Will the Minister now confirm that the Government’s preferred option of a £100 million annual sales limit will be applied and implemented, as previously stated, on 6 April? If not, why not?

[Mims Davies]

I accept the hon. Gentleman’s point that there is a real strength of feeling on this matter. The fact that I am still regularly meeting colleagues and hearing from the sector shows that we want to get this right. I understand the sense of urgency, but I appreciate that we need to get the balance right. Society lotteries are important, and they make a huge contribution to the fundraising landscape, with £296 million raised for good causes last year alone. Of course we need to balance that alongside supporting the national lottery, too.