The Government wishes to restore the National Lottery to its original purpose. A priority element of this is the restoration of the shares of the National Lottery Distribution Fund to 20% for each of the good causes of sport, heritage and the arts. The Secretary of State for Culture is seeking views on this proposed change. The change will be effected by means of a Statutory Instrument made under Section 28 of the National Lottery etc. Act 1993.

In order to ensure that levels of grant available to the voluntary and community sector are protected, the proposal is to make the change in two stages:

On 1 April 2011, to increase the share apportionment for arts, heritage and sport to 18% each of the Lottery and reduce the Big Lottery Fund to 46%.
Then on 1 April 2012, to increase the shares for arts, heritage and sport to 20% each of the Lottery and to reduce the apportionment share for the Big Lottery Fund to 40%.

The Culture Secretary is interested in your views on the proposal and the timing for its implementation, and how the change is likely to affect you or the sector/s you represent, and in particular, your views on the following:

• How would the change benefit you or the sector you represent?
• How would the proposed change disadvantage you or the sector you represent?

The draft order, together with a letter from the Culture Secretary, a list of the bodies being consulted, and a draft impact assessment available on the DCMS website shortly at http://www.dcms.gov.uk/consultations/7070.aspx.

The consultation period ends on 21 August 2010 and please send all responses to: lottery@culture.gsi.gov.uk.