Public to get vote on Lottery money

Under plans unveiled in the new Lottery Bill the public could get a say in how money raised through the National Lottery is spent.

Unveiling the bill Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said that Lottery money belonged to the people who played the Lottery, saying: “They need to feel a sense of ownership of the money and see the evidence that is spent on their behalf and in their interest.

“In future the public will have a far greater say over where Lottery money goes. They will be able to get involved via public opinion polls, citizens’ juries, focus groups, Internet surveys, telephone, Internet, text or television voting for individual projects or by joining a local or regional awards panel.”

But there are likely to be concerns that less popular, or more controversial causes, could lose out under such arrangements.