Would the hon. Gentleman like to congratulate the Scottish Government on the way in which they approached that very issue, and the £40 million of funding that we will secure? We consulted widely with the entire voluntary sector and engaged the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, and together they identified...

Would the hon. Gentleman like to congratulate the Scottish Government on the way in which they approached that very issue, and the £40 million of funding that we will secure? We consulted widely with the entire voluntary sector and engaged the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, and together they identified...

I have a lot of sympathy for what the hon. Gentleman is saying, because I recall exactly the same points being made two or three years ago during the passage of the National Lottery Bill. It was designed to do precisely what he is describing: to give the Big Lottery...

I have a lot of sympathy for what the hon. Gentleman is saying, because I recall exactly the same points being made two or three years ago during the passage of the National Lottery Bill. It was designed to do precisely what he is describing: to give the Big Lottery...

We think that the Big Lottery Fund is the appropriate organisation. It is important that we use an existing body to do this, rather than create duplicate organisations, which would increase the cost of distributing the money when our priority should be to get the resources to local schemes and,...

We think that the Big Lottery Fund is the appropriate organisation. It is important that we use an existing body to do this, rather than create duplicate organisations, which would increase the cost of distributing the money when our priority should be to get the resources to local schemes and,...

The costs of salaries, administration and all the rest are too high, irrespective of what the hon. Gentleman says about the BLF. As the costs are high, we must consider whether there is a more efficacious way of distributing the money to the people whom we wish to help. Lord...

The costs of salaries, administration and all the rest are too high, irrespective of what the hon. Gentleman says about the BLF. As the costs are high, we must consider whether there is a more efficacious way of distributing the money to the people whom we wish to help. Lord...

Barclaycard, I am happy to say, is based in my constituency. Its record on charitable giving, particularly giving to enhance society, is immense, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would want to pay tribute to that.

Barclaycard, I am happy to say, is based in my constituency. Its record on charitable giving, particularly giving to enhance society, is immense, and I am sure that the hon. Gentleman would want to pay tribute to that.

My hon. Friend is right. We need to ensure that the funds are used to provide sustainable support for young people in particular areas, rather than short-term support that cannot be replicated in the future. Further consultation and discussion will be needed on exactly how that should be done, and...

My hon. Friend is right. We need to ensure that the funds are used to provide sustainable support for young people in particular areas, rather than short-term support that cannot be replicated in the future. Further consultation and discussion will be needed on exactly how that should be done, and...

Treasury Ministers will be happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss his point further. Obviously, some of those issues will be for the Big Lottery Fund to set out as part of its distribution, but it probably is important that during consideration of the Bill we have a good...

Treasury Ministers will be happy to meet the hon. Gentleman to discuss his point further. Obviously, some of those issues will be for the Big Lottery Fund to set out as part of its distribution, but it probably is important that during consideration of the Bill we have a good...

There is a distinct possibility that that is happening, and not just with Santander. I will not mention the names of the banks involved, but there are a number of areas in which that may be happening, and I shall touch on that. I am concerned about the total pot...

There is a distinct possibility that that is happening, and not just with Santander. I will not mention the names of the banks involved, but there are a number of areas in which that may be happening, and I shall touch on that. I am concerned about the total pot...

My apologies to the House for the fact that other business has kept me from the Chamber on and off this afternoon. Are my hon. Friend's concerns about the willingness or otherwise of banks and building societies to engage a result of his experience in trying to gain information? Will...

My apologies to the House for the fact that other business has kept me from the Chamber on and off this afternoon. Are my hon. Friend's concerns about the willingness or otherwise of banks and building societies to engage a result of his experience in trying to gain information? Will...

As I said, I will touch on one or two issues of that nature. The banks were extremely reluctant to give me any information about dormant bank accounts. Initially, the British Bankers Association was extremely reluctant to come out with anything. Not surprisingly, it was happy with the existing situation....

As I said, I will touch on one or two issues of that nature. The banks were extremely reluctant to give me any information about dormant bank accounts. Initially, the British Bankers Association was extremely reluctant to come out with anything. Not surprisingly, it was happy with the existing situation....

I am sure that you will not allow me to go down that line, Mr. Deputy Speaker. However, I agree with the hon. Gentleman's other point that the distribution should be on a needs-based basis. However, as a Member from mid-Wales, he will know that there are problems with distribution...

I am sure that you will not allow me to go down that line, Mr. Deputy Speaker. However, I agree with the hon. Gentleman's other point that the distribution should be on a needs-based basis. However, as a Member from mid-Wales, he will know that there are problems with distribution...

I commend the hon. Gentleman on his work on such matters. He mentioned the Big Lottery Fund. He will be aware that any funds going to Wales will be distributed on the basis of the Big Lottery Fund formula of 6.5 per cent., rather than on the Barnett formula of...

I commend the hon. Gentleman on his work on such matters. He mentioned the Big Lottery Fund. He will be aware that any funds going to Wales will be distributed on the basis of the Big Lottery Fund formula of 6.5 per cent., rather than on the Barnett formula of...

I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones), both for his long-standing interest in the subject and for his heroic but seemingly futile attempts to save the Labour party from bankruptcy. When the business was originally scheduled for 6 October, our first day back, no one...

I pay tribute to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South (Mr. Jones), both for his long-standing interest in the subject and for his heroic but seemingly futile attempts to save the Labour party from bankruptcy. When the business was originally scheduled for 6 October, our first day back, no one...

Absolutely. I am delighted to do so, but there are two separate things that should not be confused. First, banks' charitable giving: most major corporations give out of their profits—[Interruption.] I am talking about money on their balance sheets that they do not want to give up. They were reluctant...

Absolutely. I am delighted to do so, but there are two separate things that should not be confused. First, banks' charitable giving: most major corporations give out of their profits—[Interruption.] I am talking about money on their balance sheets that they do not want to give up. They were reluctant...

The hon. Lady misses the point. We do not know how much the banks have, but they will trumpet how much they are giving out. They are already doing so. As we have heard today, some banks are successfully reuniting the accounts with their owners, and that is the best...

The hon. Lady misses the point. We do not know how much the banks have, but they will trumpet how much they are giving out. They are already doing so. As we have heard today, some banks are successfully reuniting the accounts with their owners, and that is the best...

Reflecting on what the hon. Gentleman has just said, surely the banks would be only too pleased to trumpet the fact that they were successful in reuniting the money in the accounts with their rightful owners, so we would have some idea how much money had been disbursed in the...

Reflecting on what the hon. Gentleman has just said, surely the banks would be only too pleased to trumpet the fact that they were successful in reuniting the money in the accounts with their rightful owners, so we would have some idea how much money had been disbursed in the...

I am certainly happy to debate the issue in Committee. Although what the UK is proposing in terms of the voluntary scheme has not been adopted in other countries, we have had extensive discussions with the banks and building societies and they have all indicated a strong willingness to participate,...

I am certainly happy to debate the issue in Committee. Although what the UK is proposing in terms of the voluntary scheme has not been adopted in other countries, we have had extensive discussions with the banks and building societies and they have all indicated a strong willingness to participate,...

My hon. Friend said he had dealt with the last point he raised, but I think the elephant in the room is the voluntary nature of the proposals. There has been scepticism across the House about whether a voluntary scheme can work given that no other voluntary scheme is operating...

My hon. Friend said he had dealt with the last point he raised, but I think the elephant in the room is the voluntary nature of the proposals. There has been scepticism across the House about whether a voluntary scheme can work given that no other voluntary scheme is operating...

I do not have the figures immediately to hand, but they certainly are significant. The hon. Member for Cheltenham made the point that although a significant number of building societies will be excluded under the £7 billion figure, some of the big building societies will participate in the reclaim fund,...

I do not have the figures immediately to hand, but they certainly are significant. The hon. Member for Cheltenham made the point that although a significant number of building societies will be excluded under the £7 billion figure, some of the big building societies will participate in the reclaim fund,...

On the second reason the Economic Secretary cited, will he say by how much the resources available would fall if the seven largest building societies took part in the alternative scheme?

On the second reason the Economic Secretary cited, will he say by how much the resources available would fall if the seven largest building societies took part in the alternative scheme?