SNP urges new lottery scratchcard to boost Glasgow Games funding

Published on Saturday 12 December 2009 19:14

SCOTTISH ministers are in talks with the UK Government over plans to establish a new National Lottery game that would raise £150 million to help fund the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Shona Robison, the sport and public health minister, has stepped up her efforts to create a 2014 Commonwealth Games scratchcard in an attempt to capitalise on the games coming to Glasgow.

Robison and the Labour Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport at Westminster, Ben Bradshaw, are in discussions about her proposal to create a new lottery card that would be similar to the version of the London Olympic game that already exists.

The Olympic game has already raised 375m for the London 2012 games.

Robison has written to Bradshaw asking for new UK legislation to set up the new lottery game "as a matter of urgency".

The move is the latest attempt by the Scottish Government to secure lottery funding from the UK Government following evidence that millions of pounds which would have been used for good causes in Scotland, and elsewhere in the UK, has been diverted to pay for the multi-billion pound Olympics.

A campaign for lottery funds, led by Scotland on Sunday, has also been supported by Sportscotland, Glasgow City Council and the main Commonwealth Games organisers. They argue that extra lottery cash on top of the core funding for the games would help to boost training, volunteering and facilities before and after the two-week spectacular.

Others have suggested that a Commonwealth legacy fund could be used to build new transport systems in Glasgow's East End, or even new sporting facilities across the entire country.

SNP ministers argue that the revenue from the lottery game would help to make up a similar amount of lottery money already diverted to help fund the London Olympics.

In her letter to Bradshaw, Robison said: "I am formally writing to ask that the UK Government introduce legislation to establish a new dedicated lottery game to raise 150m to support the delivery of a lasting legacy from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

"In addition, I urge that you take the necessary steps to ensure that the National Lottery Commission (NLC) and Camelot are persuaded of the need for this," given the new fund would need to be reflected in Camelot's operating licence and the relevant games licences."

She added: "I am also very aware that the Olympic Distribution Fund is well ahead of its target to raise 750m through dedicated games to support London 2012."

Robison has also written to the Scottish Secretary, Jim Murphy, pointing out that a "clear commitment" had been made by the UK Government to make progress to return the lottery cash already diverted from Scotland.

She said there was an "explicit commitment" that officials from the Department of Media, Culture and Sport and the Scottish Government would work together on the matter.

"You will recall that the case for the return of the lottery monies to Scotland has cross party support and is essential to ensure we achieve a legacy from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow that we can all be proud of," she said..

A spokesman for the DCMS pointed out that some lottery money was already supporting the Glasgow games. "The 2014 Commonwealth Games is the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland and it is, of course, an opportunity to make sure the Games leave a lasting legacy," he said.

"It's fantastic that so many of Scotland's lottery distributors have committed funds to making this happen – worth a total of some 30m."