If the people of Wales were offered their own lottery it would be vastly
more popular than the National Lottery. A Public Opinion Survey carried
out for the website net-cymru (1) showed that if people in Wales were offered
a choice, they would buy about three times as many tickets for the Welsh
lottery as for the National Lottery. (2)
The survey, consisting of 236 interviews conducted in 20 locations in
South-East Wales showed clear reasons why people thought that the National
Lottery was not right for them.
The huge jackpot with correspondingly minute chance of winning was the
least popular aspect, with only 2% of those expressing a view saying that
they would be less likely to play a scaled-down Welsh lottery. The majority
(71%) found it more attractive. (3)
There was clear concern about inflated executive salaries with 92% saying
that it was either "Important" or "Very Important" that the organisers of
a national lottery should not get rich as a result of their work. A number
spontaneously expressed disappointment at the failure of the People's Lottery
bid.
The distribution of the money for good causes was a matter for concern,
with 88% saying that it was "Important" or "Very Important" that lottery
money raised in Wales should go to good causes in Wales. Of the 10% who
said it didn't matter, many made comments along the line that the money
should be distributed "fairly" or "according to need". A number expressed
disagreement with money going to the Arts or prestige building projects
such as the Millennium Stadium or the Dome.
Webmaster Eddy Hunt commented, "Clearly the people of Wales do not have
the lottery they want. Is lottery money being disproportionately raised
in Wales and disproportionately spent outside of Wales? There are no
readily available cumulative statistics to answer this question and no one
appears to be monitoring the situation. Is this acceptable in
post-devolution Wales?"
A separate but related issue is the distribution according to wealth.
Compared with those in Newport, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, regular
players in the Valleys were found to spend 30% more. (4) As one interviewee
put it, "Poor people play the lottery. Rich people don't need to play."
Eddy Hunt commented, "The most visible lottery spending takes place in the
relatively wealthy capital cities - London and Cardiff. It can't be excluded
that there is a net transfer, from the poor to the rich, of money for good
causes. This is hardly in the spirit of the National Lottery when it was
launched.
"Spontaneous comments indicated support for money going to 'the needy', the
disabled and the sick. It is impossible to escape the conclusion that
much-needed work in Wales suffers as a result maintaining the National
Lottery in its present form."
Release Date: 24 January 2001
Notes:
(1) www.net-cymru.co.uk
(2) 74% for Welsh lottery, 26% for the National lottery. The methods and
assumptions used for the estimation are explained on the website -
see (3) below.
(3) Detailed tabulated statistics, complete interview notes and further
discussion have been posted - see
Lottery Survey
(4) Regular players reported spending £3.56 in the Valleys and £2.75 in
the coastal regions. Given that not playing the lottery was a frequent
reason for refusing to be interviewed, no attempt was made to estimate
the percentage of people who play regularly in the separate areas.
Retired Lecturer proposes lift sharing system for Rhondda Cynon Taff
It sounds too good to be true - the chance for car drivers to reduce their
petrol costs and for those without cars to make otherwise impossible
journeys, plus reduced traffic, pollution and emission of greenhouse gases -
and all without spending a penny of public money.
Yet retired computer lecturer Eddy Hunt insists that it could work.
The scheme would work by using an existing Internet site and computers
already installed in local libraries. Drivers would register their
regular journeys, and potential passengers would look on the Internet for a
match. Many people who would use such a scheme would not be connected to the
Internet and would not have the confidence to use it on their own - hence the
importance of the involvement of libraries.
"The advantages of the Internet is that costs are very low. I am convinced
that the publicity associated with the scheme would make it sufficiently
attractive to local advertisers to make it pay."
He points out the political support for introducing the use of the Internet
in the Valleys which has led to the introduction of on-line computers in
libraries, but very low use by local residents. "The best way to get
skeptical people to accept new technology is to show them that it can provide
practical solutions to their problems."
"I have heard some concern about possible misuse of telephone numbers. Some
thought needs to be given to a suggested code of conduct. It is important
that no-one should feel pressured into accepting any arrangement and that no
one pays more than a reasonable contribution to the costs - which will be
considerably lower per mile than using public transport."
"Although it is impossible to guarantee that nothing would go wrong, it
should be remembered that using public transport is not without its hazards -
particularly travelling late at night."
The introduction of lift sharing was one of a number of suggestions Eddy Hunt
included in a response to Rhondda Cynon Taff's Draft Transport Plan. "The
Valleys suffer from multiple deprivation and lack of access to transport is
one link in the vicious circle since it can mean reduced chances of
education, training and employment. The Draft Transport plan describes the
problem, but it was disappointing to see the lack of creative thinking about
how to deal with it."
Eddy Hunt fully supports the (Westminster) Government's stated objective of
reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. "It's important
to offer positive alternatives. Relying on punitive measures alone such
as the now abandoned road charging scheme and escalating fuel taxes are bound
to cause resentment."
He approached the Council during the petrol crisis. "The rush on petrol
stations caused a rapid deterioration in the situation, but people had no
alternatives. The threat continues that something similar could happen
again. What a difference it would make if people could reduce their petrol
consumption through sharing lifts."
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This page was last updated on 24 January 2001 __________
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