Ms Carol Boate:

The Deputy is correct that the new licence is different from the old licence. Previously, unclaimed prizes all went back as prizes in another way. They were used to top-up prizes, maybe at St. Patrick's weekend or such. Under the new licence, unclaimed prizes may still be used for top-up prizes but may also be used for advertising and promotion of the national lottery. If anything is not spent within the 365 day period, that group returns to good causes. My role is to make sure that the right amount of money is in the right place at the right time, that that is what unclaimed prizes are being spent on and nothing else, and that only unclaimed prizes go into that money. I know the amounts. We monitor this regularly. We have a number of different reporting mechanisms to make sure we keep an eye on unclaimed prizes, the value of them and where the money is going. I know all of the figures involved. Some of the coverage of this issue has been a bit unclear. There is no question of the company not doing what it is supposed to do under the licence. It is supposed to spend the money on the three things mentioned, on top-up prizes and promotion, with anything left over going to good causes. Based on all the information I have and all of the reports and reviews we have done, there is nothing to suggest that the company is doing anything other than that.