Culture Secretary James Purnell has given a firm commitment that the Government will make no further raids on the National Lottery to fund the 2012 Olympic Games. The assurance was given as MPs voted for a diversion of £675m Lottery good cause funds to meet the increased cost of the 2012 Olympics.
Charities in the arts, heritage, sports and wider voluntary sector have lobbied Ministers hard on the diversion of funds, led by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, the Voluntary Arts Network, Heritage Link and the Central Council of Physical Recreation, and the National Campaign for the Arts has also been vocal in its opposition to the cuts. There is widespread relief that further raids can now be ruled out. Robin Simpson, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Arts Network, said, “While this assurance does not alleviate the damage caused by the transfers of funding already announced, it represents an important step in terms of the Government listening to the voluntary arts, sports and heritage sectors.”