Written question asked by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 29 July 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 30 July 1998. It was answered by George Howarth (Labour) on Thursday, 30 July 1998 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the third report on the impact of the National Lottery on the horserace betting levy. - Includes ref to update placed in Library (DEP 98/880).

Answer: Mr. Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the third report on the impact of the National Lottery on the horserace betting levy. [54882] Mr. George Howarth: An update on the impact of the National Lottery on the horserace betting levy has been published today and will be placed in the Library. This fulfils an undertaking made during the passage of the National Lottery Bill. The paper, which has been prepared by the Economics Unit of the Home Office, examines continuing trends in off-course betting expenditure, on which the Levy closely depends. The statistical analysis indicates that, in 1997, off-course betting expenditure was about 12.8 per cent. below the level it would have reached in the absence of the National Lottery. Horserace betting accounts for about 69 per cent. of off-course betting expenditure, and therefore the levy yield is likely to have been similarly affected. This can be only an approximate figure, and the effect of the Lottery may vary over time.

Secondary information