National Lottery Bill

I am sure the noble Viscount, Lord Astor, will have plenty to say in reply, but I have a few questions for the Minister before then. He put up a fabulous smokescreen: we had broad strategy, large amounts of money and high-level themes. I am sure the intentions are honourable and all very splendid, but we are actually talking about the Government’s absolute powers in the Bill, not so much the exercise of those powers or the intent behind them. Looking at the concordance the Government have so helpfully provided, it is utterly clear that those are additional powers to prescribe in greater detail within those categories. That is the big problem. Why should moving from 33.3 to 50 per cent justify those increased powers? That is what the Minister has not really explained. He has talked in very large terms about the need for such powers of prescription, but in the previous 1993 Act, as amended, those powers do not exist for the New Opportunities Fund. The noble Baroness, Lady Pitkeathley, said that a light touch was exercised by the Government, but the Government did not have the powers that they would have in this Bill. That is the plain fact of it.