Charles Walker voices voluntary sector concerns that, although not being used for Olympics infrastructure projects, the lottery fund could be raided to fund Olympics legacy projects.

Mr. Charles Walker (Broxbourne) (Con): The Minister has given assurances that no more lottery money will be siphoned off between now and the Olympics to fund the building of infrastructure projects, but does that guarantee extend to the legacy? There is concern in some quarters that the legacy will be funded by future raids on the lottery fund.

Phil Hope: I think that I can give the hon. Gentleman those assurances. I remind him that we have managed successfully to safeguard that level of resourcing for third sector organisations from the Big Lottery Fund not just over the five years, but beyond the Olympic games. Again, however, I suggest that he talk to those on his own Front Bench, who would inflict £250 million of cuts on the voluntary sector with their proposals on funding the Olympics.

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