National Lottery Bill

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his response and I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Pitkeathley, for her interjection. She said that there were problems with the Community Fund, and that is the first time that those words have been uttered in this House. In Committee, I invited the Minister to say whether there had been any problems and none was offered. In Yorkshire, all I have heard is tremendous respect and support for what that regional committee, which was responsible for the Community Fund, did in Yorkshire. If it is the Big Lottery, it can have a big board. I do not believe that a board of 17 or 20 makes any difference; it is still on the large side. Plenty of organisations have a board of that size; a board of 20 is not overwhelming. The problem is that the 17 have been chosen—no doubt chosen for good motives regarding representation from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland—but, bearing in mind the metropolitan nature of the English people who were chosen, only two could be said to be provincial in English terms. Therefore, there is not a sense that that group of 17 has said, ““Ah, this is the way that we will organise ourselves””. The 17 have been put there in that way so as not to come up with a regional solution. The other important point is that the Minister says that the board have decided against, but there is no evidence whatever that proper consideration has been given. The only minute is that which says:"““It was commented that, during discussions, very little mention had been made of the English regions and their needs””." It was not even picked up at the next meeting. There is no suggestion that they ever looked at the English regional dimension. However, as the Minister said, I may well withdraw. I need to think about this, have another look at his response and see if circumstances are right on another occasion to garner a majority. For the moment, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 11 to 13 not moved.] Clause 14 [Functions]: [Amendment No. 14 not moved.]