National lottery funds for venues and bike organisations: FOI release

Information requested

To request details of all involvement of Ministers in regards to charities related to:-

1. National lottery funds in venues unsuitable for music events (IE all Ministers who have been involved in funding events in Venues unsuitable for music events and holding music events).

2. National lottery funds which are related to any bike organisation where helmets are not being worn.

Response

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not hold the information you have requested.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on who has received lottery funding so we are unable to provide information on Ministerial involvement with charities in receipt of lottery funding either in venues unsuitable for music events or related to any bike organisation where helmets are not being worn. However, the UK Government’s Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) have a database of Lottery Grants search page (culture.gov.uk) There have been almost 64,000 grants awarded in Scotland since the lottery began in 1994.

In addition, Sportscotland, the national agency for sport in Scotland has advised that:

• They do not include any specific conditions within their facilities investment offer of awards (such as their Sports Facilities Fund and Cycling Facilities Fund) relating to helmets. This would be an operational/management issue for the specific facility provider/operator. sportscotland are aware, however, that in most cases facility sites will have display boards with signage advising users of safety information and protocols, such as the wearing of helmets.
• From a governing body perspective, British/Scottish Cycling’s position on the use of helmets is quite open. They recommend wearing a correctly fitted helmet while cycling, however, they also support the right of each individual to choose whether or not to accept this recommendation and recognise the limit to the protection that helmets provide. For any British/Scottish Cycling sanctioned events, helmets are mandatory.

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.