National Lottery Good Causes
House of Commons · Written Statements · 1 Jul 2026 · 1 speech · Official Report
Today the Government are announcing a major call for evidence on national lottery good causes funding: “National Lottery Good Causes: Fund What Matters To You”. When John Major launched the national lottery in 1994 he promised that the new lottery would give “anyone who has ever burned with the desire to change the face of their town, their village or the whole country a chance to do so.” Since then, our national lottery has provided more than £53 billion across arts and culture, sport, heritage, and charity. Around 70% of adults in the UK now play the lottery in one form or another, every single year. Funded by the millions of ordinary people who take part every week, the national lottery is not just public money, it is literally the public’s money. However, not since the brilliant Tessa Jowell in 2002 has anyone asked if we are spending the public’s money the way they actually want it to be spent. Today’s call for evidence asks precisely that question, and for the first time in decades, brings the public back into the conversation after two decades-and puts people in the driving seat. They will write the next chapter in the story of the national lottery and of our country. The national lottery has delivered some incredible things. Without it the Lowry would not exist, the People’s History Museum would not be able to thrive and our country would not have won so many record-breaking Olympic gold medals. Instead, it is about being honest that the model-which sits largely...