OLYMPICS AND PARALYMPICS LOTTERY FUNDING

That this House supports the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games but is concerned that up to £900 million of National Lottery funding for good causes may be diverted to meet increased infrastructure costs of the Games; further notes that such a diversion would be disastrous for charities and community groups, which could lose over £300 million in funding from the Big Lottery Fund; is concerned that on average this equates to a £500,000 loss in funding for voluntary and community organisations in each parliamentary constituency; notes that the Lottery is already contributing £1.5 billion to the Olympics; further notes that the voluntary and community sector is a vital partner in the success of the Games; and calls on the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Chancellor of the Exchequer to support and protect the voluntary and community sector by safeguarding Lottery funding from any further diversion to the Olympics.