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| SECTOR
SUPPORT FOR CONDEMNATION OF OLYMPIC LOTTERY PLANS |
26/03/04 |
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NCVO
says it is "delighted" at the heavy criticism levelled at the
government by a Commons select committee over plans to use lottery money
for the Olympics bid.
Chief executive Stuart Etherington has fully backed the recommendations
of the Culture, Media and Sports (CMS) committee that the Olympics bid should
be funded from elsewhere, and also that changes should be made to the distribution
of lottery cash to good causes.
The CMS committee has supported the campaign for the 12% duty on lottery
tickets to be re-directed to the good cause and prizes, and calls for the
funding of the promotion of the lottery to be provided by Camelot.
It also recommends that the planned merger of two major distributors be
properly managed so that expertise is not lost and maximum savings are achieved.
Its report states: "The principle of 'additionality' - whereby lottery resources
are not supposed to be used by ministers to replace government spending
- is being eroded, especially in the light of contingent plans for staging
the Olympics.
"We deplore this. We regard the £1.5bn earmarked by the government as the
lottery's overall contribution to the Olympics as a straightforward raid."
Etherington comments: "'The government must respond to this report
and in particular set out its plans to scrap the lottery duty, establish
an annual report to parliament on the protection of the principle of additionality
and maximise returns to good causes."
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