4. To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations she has received on the impact of lottery funding for voluntary sector organisations of the 2012 Olympics. (143854)

5. To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent representations she has received on the impact of lottery funding for voluntary sector organisations of the 2012 Olympics. (143855)

In the run-up to the Olympics decision, I received many representations from third sector organisations seeking assurances that money for the sector from the Big Lottery Fund would be protected.

As confirmed by the BLF, the additional funding to the Olympics announced on 15 March will come from money that would have gone to statutory programmes, not money set aside for the voluntary sector, and as the Chairman Sir Clive Booth said at the time:

“I am pleased that we will be able to protect existing programmes and the money earmarked for the third sector.”

8. To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment she has made of the impact on third sector organisations of the diversion of lottery funding towards the 2012 Olympics. (143860)

As confirmed by the BLF, the additional funding to the Olympics announced on 15 March, will come from money that would have gone to statutory programmes, not money set aside for the voluntary sector. The other distributors contributing to the Olympics have said they do not expect existing commitments to be affected and will make specific announcements about future programmes in due course.