WIRRAL South MP Ben Chapman has welcomed the National Lottery Bill which provides for a fairer geographical distribution of lottery moneys.

In the House of Commons he raised the issue of Wirral South fairing particularly badly in receiving lottery money with MP Tom Clarke, Minister at the Department of National Heritage.

The Minister responded by accepting that Mr Chapman had forcefully outlined the situation faced by Wirral South in the House on April 7 and that the distributors will be receiving policy directions emphasising the importance of funding reaching all parts of the country.

Mr Chapman said: "The Minister's answer to my question was most helpful. I am glad that the Government appreciates that lottery money distribution has been unfairly distributed in geographical terms and that Wirral South has suffered as a result.

"My campaign has been successful to this extent, but I will be monitoring the situation to see if more money comes into the area. I will organise meetings with the distributors to see how best this can be achieved."

Mr Chapman also urged the Minister to advance the starting date when the new opportunities fund starts to finance the important programme of out-of-school-hours clubs.

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