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LOCAL PEOPLE LOTTERY'S BIG LOSER
April 24, 2006 12:00 AM
Paul Holmes MP today attacked the Government for failing to ensure that National Lottery funds are fairly distributed across the country.
Questioning the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in the House of Commons, the local Lib Dem MP said:
"The stated aim of your Department is 'to improve the quality of life for all', yet each person living in the deprived coalfield communities of the East Midlands receives just 37% of the lottery money given to Londoners.
"The East Midlands receives the 10th lowest funding per person out of the UK's twelve Government Office Regions. That's just £209.25 for each of my constituents compared to £558.63 for every Londoner.
"It is vital that the Labour Government addresses the stark inequalities in funding for much-needed cultural and sporting facilities."
Paul also challenged the Secretary of State over the lack of lottery funding granted by Sports England to support Chesterfield Borough Council in replacing the dangerous, subsidence hit leisure centre and swimming pool in Middlecroft, Staveley.
"Chesterfield is exactly the sort of deprived coalfield area that should be benefiting from coalfield money. But neither the Government or Sport England is investing a penny in local swimming facilities. Every penny of the £8million cost of rebuilding Middlecroft swimming pool is falling on the local Lib Dem council."
The Minister has agreed to meet with Paul Holmes and Lottery distributors to address these issues.
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