Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 66: 66: Clause 16, page 8, line 37, at end insert— ““(4A) At least 60 days before making an order under this section, the Secretary of State shall publish a report setting out the principles that he intends to adopt in prescribing percentages under subsection (1).”” The noble Lord said: I should like to give the Minister this opportunity to shed some light on government intentions. The Bill provides for a consultation between the Secretary of State, the devolved Executives and the Big Lottery Fund—and that is all. If the Secretary of State wishes, the entire consultation could be held behind closed doors, with no transparency at all until the grand unveiling of the percentages before Parliament. Even then, there is no obligation to disclose how the percentages were reached. My amendments in this group would require the Secretary of State to publish exactly how the percentages for the devolved Administrations are reached. At no point is there any indication that the public—the potential recipients of this money—or any other organisation which might be interested, would have the opportunity to have their voice heard. I remind the Minister that it is not government money and not the Government’s to spend as they choose without regard to anyone’s opinion. It is money that the banks have offered up voluntarily on the understanding that the Government will spend it wisely on good causes. I hope that the Minister will see the point of my argument, as the amendment seeks only to make the process of apportionment more transparent, not to tie the hands of the Secretary of State in any way. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response. I beg to move.