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No meetings held to discuss future of lottery under independence

No meetings held to discuss future of lottery under independence

No talks have been held between the Scottish Government and National Lottery operators Camelot, despite SNP assurances the competition would be unchanged in the event of independence.

Finance Secretary John Swinney claimed in a Parliamentary answer in January that “an independent Scotland will continue to have a lottery and lottery infrastructure”.

However, a letter from Richard Hickson, Camelot’s head of policy and public affairs, to Conservative MSP Nanette Milne confirmed no meetings between ministers and the organisation had taken place.

The UK National Lottery has raised more than £29 billion for good causes, £2.3bn of which has been spent in Scotland.

Mr Hickson also said any decision about the National Lottery’s future if a Yes vote is delivered next September would be a matter for Westminster and Holyrood to sort out between themselves.

A spokeswoman for Mr Swinney claimed this backed the case for pre-referendum talks, something the Conservative-led coalition UK Government has ruled out.

Ms Milne said: “The SNP and the Yes campaign are being bankrolled by lottery winners but they have no idea whether the people of Scotland will still get the chance to play the lottery.

“Communities and the country’s sporting stars will also be wondering if they will continue to benefit from the billion given out from the lottery’s Good Causes fund.”

A spokeswoman for the Finance Secretary said Scotland would continue to have a lottery in the event of independence as the Camelot contract runs to 2023.

She said it is for the two governments to agree exact arrangements but, “given that Scotland already contributes to the lottery, there is absolutely no reason why it should not continue to operate as it does just now”.