Following consultation, the government announced reforms to the operation of the National Lottery. Different companies would have the chance to run different games, and the public would have 'far more say' in where good cause money was spent - local referendums would be used to consult communities about particular decisions.
Source: National Lottery Licensing and Regulation: Decision document, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200) | National Lottery Funding: Decision document, Department for Culture, Media and Sport | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 3.7.03, columns 33-34WS, TSO (0870 600 5522) | Press release 3.7.03, Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Links: Licensing and Regulation document (pdf) | Funding document | Hansard | DCMS press release | NCVO press release
Date: 2003-Jul
A new lottery funding scheme, the 'Fair Share Trust', was launched with 50 million from the New Opportunities Fund. The money would be invested in 70 disadvantaged communities that had yet to receive their fair share of lottery funding. It would be used to support environmental improvement schemes, boost skills and employment opportunities, and help communities to secure future funding. Funding would be spread over a ten-year period.
Source: Press release 11.6.03, New Opportunities Fund (0845 039 0204)
Links: No link
Date: 2003-Jun
The national lottery operators announced that total sales for 2002-03 were 4,574 million, a 5.4 per cent decline on the previous year. A further 1,376 million was raised during the year for good causes (national lottery development fund), bringing the cumulative total since the launch of the lottery to 12.7 billion. In 2002-03 2.23 billion was paid out in prize money, 549 million to the government in lottery duty and 241 million in retailer commission.
Source: Press release 28.5.03, Camelot Group (01923 425456)
Links: Press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-May
Research found that the Community Fund was the most important source of funds for many poor and deprived communities in England.
Source: Mike Coombes, Neil Alderman and Simon Raybould, Mapping Grants to Deprived Communities, Community Fund (020 7747 5300)
Links: Report (pdf) | CF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Apr
The National Audit Office said that the Community Fund had adhered to its policies and procedures in awarding a controversial grant to the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns: but it said that these policies and procedures were not sufficiently robust and did not alert the Fund to risks of awarding a grant to a body whose actions could be seen as 'political and doctrinaire'.
Source: Community Fund: Review of grants made to the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns, HC 519 (Session 2002-03), National Audit Office, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | NAO press release | CF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Feb
Following consultation, the government announced that two National Lottery distributors the New Opportunities Fund and the Community Fund are to be merged. This means that more than half the money raised for good causes will be distributed by a single body, with a remit to 'improve the quality of life in communities, and promote social inclusion'. Voluntary organisations expressed concern that the merger would reduce the proportion of money distributed to them.
Source: Press release 25.2.03, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (020 7211 6200) | Press release 25.2.03, National Council for Voluntary Organisations (0800 279 8798)
Links: DCMS press release | Consultation Document (2002) (pdf) | Consultation results (pdf) | NCVO press release | NOF press release
Date: 2003-Feb
The Board of the Community Fund decided to defer its decision on proposals to merge with another lottery distributor, the New Opportunities Fund, in view of concerns expressed by the voluntary and community sector about maintaining an independent funding stream.
Source: Press release 21.1.03, Community Fund (020 7747 5300)
Links: NOF press release | Community Care article
Date: 2003-Jan
The government disclosed that the national lottery distribution fund had promised to hand out 470 million more to good causes than it has in available funds.
Source: House of Commons Hansard, Written Answers 30.1.03, columns 954-955W, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Hansard | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Jan
A report called for the creation of a single lottery distributor in Scotland. It argued for a distribution system independent of political influence (in particular from central government in London), free to allocate funds to meet communities own priorities.
Source: The National Lottery in Scotland The future, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (0131 556 3882)
Links: Press release
Date: 2003-Jan