The Scottish Government has submitted a formal bid document to retrieve £150 million in lottery funds diverted from Scottish good causes to finance the 2012 London Olympics. Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell today revealed that the bid document has been sent to Andy Burnham, Secretary of State at the UK Department of Culture, Media & Sport. Mr Maxwell stressed that the return of the money was “a matter of natural justice” on the grounds that it was “fundamentally unfair” that Scottish good causes should suffer to pay for London 2012. The money would be destined to ensure a lasting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games - awarded to Scotland exactly one year ago. In the Scottish Parliament on September 25, MSPs unanimously endorsed a motion calling for a substantial sum of National Lottery funding to be released as soon as possible to support a lasting legacy from Glasgow 2014. The £150 million will not be used to fund the delivery of the 2014 Games - these costs are being met by the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council.

Weblink

9 November 2008
© Scottish Government