The Sewell Motion, which devolves control of Scotland’s share of Big lottery Fund (BLF) expenditure to Scotland, has been welcomed by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). However, it has expressed its continued opposition for the main Lotteries Bill, which it believes takes away much of the independence of the funder.

“The main Westminster lottery reform bill retains to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport a high level of centralist control and potential prescription over the total Fund expenditure and therefore the size of Scotland’s share within that. The bill as currently drafted makes it easy for the UK government to top-slice the fund for so-called ‘transformational grants’ and potentially other purposes effectively reducing Scotland’s devolved share”, said Lucy McTernan, director of corporate affairs for SCVO, who urged ministers to support a non-prescriptive approach to grant-making which would allow Scottish charities to decide upon projects and priorities for themselves.

The SCVO also wants assurance that the process of appointment to the Scottish Committee of the BLF, and of the Scottish representative on the main UK Board is open and accountable at all levels.