The commitment to introduce the additionality amendment was made in the House of Lords Report stage of the National Lottery Bill on 24 April. A further change to the Bill removed the Secretary of State’s power to prescribe lottery expenditure.

The NCVO, which has been at the forefront of campaigning to ensure the principle of additionality is upheld in future lottery funding, welcomed the government’s decision. Its chief executive, Stuart Etherington, said: “This is an important victory for the voluntary and community sector. It should guarantee that lottery funding continues to be available for much needed and valued projects run by community groups and voluntary groups throughout the UK.”