JOHN MAJOR chose his words carefully when he described National Lottery cash awards to prostitutes and homosexual groups and an anti-deportation organisation as "ill-founded and ill-judged."

It was the first time the National Lottery Charities Board, which selects "good causes," had come in for criticism from the Government.

But the Prime Minister was right. His views will be shared by the vast majority of the millions who spend a few pounds on the National Lottery every week.

Board chairman David Sieff defended the decision which included awards of £50,000 to the Leicester Lesbian/Gay /Bisexual Centre; £26,000 to the Gay London Policing Group ; £112,000 to the Reach Out Reading Lesbian/Gay Bisexual Youth Group; £82,000 to the Scottish Prostitutes' Education Project and £66,000 to the West Midlands Anti-Deportation Group.

How he and his colleagues on the Board justify these as "good causes" is completely baffling.

John Major is quite right to demand a full report from the Board.

The question the millions who give their support to the National Lottery are asking today is: How on earth can the Board make make these crackpot hand-outs when they have turned down requests from dozens of organisations which carry out vital work in the community, such as youth groups, sports clubs and medical charities?

John Major was right again when he said the awards do not reflect the way Parliament and or the punters expect the money to be spent.

Britain is comparatively new to the Lottery game.

Participation has exceeded all forecasts.

But if the Board persist in handing over money to these way-out groups, some people may think twice about buying lottery tickets.

Other countries, with more experience of lotteries, have concentrated on causes which appeal to the majority, not those vociferous minority organisations which demand help from those who do not share their views.

This is not the first time the Board has made controversial awards.

Its first set of grants last October included £100, 500 to prostitute outreach workers in Nottingham.

Now there is a real danger of the Board becoming a laughing stock. And if that happens the National Lottery, which has generated funds for many worthy causes, could lose some of the punters who contribute the millions.

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