Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Bellingham 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.

[Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP)]

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

--- Later in debate ---

[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.

[Sir Henry Bellingham]

In concurring with the hon. Member for Argyll and Bute (Brendan O’Hara), does the Minister agree that the request by society lotteries to raise the maximum prize to £1 million is both popular and reasonable, and that there is no evidence this would damage the national lottery? She will be aware that society lotteries do untold good in our constituencies, so will she now stand foursquare behind them?

[Mims Davies]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question, and it is right to admit and react to the fact that we consulted on the £1 million prize, but we need to balance it with any potential impact on the national lottery. There is a balance to be made. Society lotteries, as we well know, are widely used as a fundraising tool across our communities to support local charities and hospices. To my mind, if we find this balance, we will grow the pie and help all lotteries to survive.