Press release - 10 March 2006

Arts and voluntary sectors in alliance on "vital" Lottery amendment

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and the National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) today announced their emphatic joint backing for an amendment to the National Lottery Bill. The amendment, tabled by Lib Dem Peer Lord Clement-Jones, ensures that bodies distributing Lottery funds report on how they have maintained independence from Government, and will be debated in the House of Lords on Monday 13 March.

In the past, the Lottery has been repeatedly used as a source of money for Government initiatives, and the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has said it "deplores this erosion" of the distinction between Government and Lottery funds. The Lottery Bill provides the opportunity to once and for all draw a line between the state and the Lottery, ensuring that Lottery money is truly additional to, and not a replacement for, Government spending.

Victoria Todd, NCA Director, said:

"We have taken the unusual step of campaigning alongside a non-arts organisation because this vital issue cuts across all sectors. Lottery money must be kept distinct from state spending - none of us want to see repeats of Lottery cash being sucked into Government agendas. By compelling all Lottery distributors to report on how they have maintained their independence, this amendment will be a boost to public confidence in the Lottery and to the arts and voluntary organisations which achieve so much with Lottery support."

Stuart Etherington, NCVO Chief Executive, said:

"A strong, independent and successful National Lottery is in the interests of us all. We are calling on Peers to support this amendment to ensure that Lottery distributors report on how their funding is free from political interference and distinct from government expenditure, and guarantee that funding continues to be available for the Lottery's original Good Causes."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. For further information please contact the NCA, 1 Kingly Street, London W1B 5PA. Telephone: 020 7287 3777. Fax: 020 7287 4777. Email nca@artscampaign.org.uk.

OR

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Regent's Wharf, 8 All Saints Street, London N1 9RL. Telephone: 020 7713 6161. Fax: 020 7713 6300. Email press@ncvo-vol.org.uk.

2. The National Campaign for the Arts (NCA) is the UK's only independent lobbying organisation representing all the arts. It provides a voice for the arts world in all its diversity. It seeks to safeguard, promote and develop the arts and win public and political recognition for the importance of the arts as a key element in our national culture.

3. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NCVO has a growing membership of over 4,450 voluntary organisations, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer bureaux, and development agencies working at a local level. www.ncvo-vol.org.uk

4.Proposed amendment to National Lottery Bill: Lord Clement-Jones / Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury.

"Distributing bodies: reporting After section 25E of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993 (c. 39) insert- "25F Distribution of funds: reporting (1) Distributing bodies, as set out under section 23, shall make a report to the Secretary of State no later than 30 days after the end of each financial year about how decisions on the awards made during that year have been reached. (2) Matters which shall be dealt with in the report, as set out under subsection (1) above, include - a. the independence of funding decisions; b. the principles applied to maintain the distinction between core government expenditure and lottery funding; and c. the proportion of funding that has been allocated to bodies (other than public bodies or local authorities) whose activities are carried out not for profit. (3) The Secretary of State shall lay a copy of each report received by him under this section before both Houses of Parliament.""

5. Definition of Additionality: Funding from lottery distributors must be additional to that which is properly funded by government and not a substitute for it. It should not be used to fund essential services or government-inspired programmes.

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