Could this really be you?

The National Lottery started running on the 14th, when tickets went on sale for the first time. The first prize draw, when a £2m jackpot will be on offer, takes place on the 19th. Half the takings go on prize money, the Treasury picks up 12 per cent, five per cent goes to retailers and five per cent is kept by the organisers, Camelot. About a quarter will go to five "good causes": sports, the arts, the Millenium Fund, Heritage, and charity. So what do people think of it?
David Alton, MP (Lib Dem) Liverpool, Mossley Hill
A COUPLE OF HUNDRED years ago lotteries were being banned in this country. In the States and other countries they have Mafia connections. I was on the Standing Committee which considered this and I opposed it. All the evidence from the States suggests it is a regressive form of tax targetted at the least well off, who buy more tickets than anyone else. It's the last thing we need in Britain, which already has more gambling than any other Western European country. As far as "good causes" goes, it's going to destroy a lot of smaller fund raising ventures: Trocaire, the Irish equivalent of CAFOD, lost money as a result of the lottery being set up there. The "good cause" going to benefit most is Kenneth Clarke and the Exchequer. The decision not to accept Richard Branson's bid was terrible. If they were serious about maximising giving then that offer should have been accepted. I hope that the maximum amount will go back to charities rather than be used for topping up existing government programmes.
Lord Longford
I'ML•40'1' REALLY interested in it try me on something else. I'm in favour of it in a general sense, but whether it's being run in a good way I don't know. Charities? I know hundreds of charities. Money could be sent to the Matthew Trust or Effra Trust, both for mental offenders, or the Newbridge Trust, for ex-prisoners.
Piers Paul Read
THERE is A CASE to be made for money being spent on historic buildings, particularly cathedrals. I'm a little uneasy at the idea of it being spent on elitist cultural projects. I dare say there are some good environmental causes, like the burying of pylons. I won't be buying one myself. I find it a slightly dubious venture. The chances of winning are fairly remote. It's a way of taking money from often quite poor people, luring them with promises of riches which are not likely to be fulfilled, in order that a small elite can then spend the money on projects they consider important.
Richard Miller
Acting director, CAFOD ONE OF THE PROBI.F.MS is that I don't really know who is going to get money. It could be up to another year before any money gets given to charities. And they haven't appointed a chief executive for the body that's going to be dealing with the money allocated for charity. I suppose I could be being a killjoy. I've nothing against people having good fun and a bit of a flutter, though it's obviously a bit concerning if this will channel money away from existing charities. The environment for charities is getting more competitive and tough. If this is used to fund new initiatives then good, but if it's just relying on money taken from elsewhere then it's not so good. I can see the emphasis might be on local projects rather than international aid. If people feel they've done their best by buying a lottery ticket then they're misled. I don't know if I'd buy one. If I won I'd probably feel so guilty I don't know what I'd do.
Rt Rev James McGuinness Bishop of Nottingham
We COULD DO without the lottery. If it was going to be a financial help to the leaders of the country in the way of boosting medicine, schools or homeless projects then fine. As long as people don't go overboard and throw all the money away. People are fond of taking a gamble but it is something that can take hold of them and lead to their home or family being uprooted. And it means trusting on luck rather than hard work. I wouldn't want people to rely on that. It's been running in many countries for years and they've achieved a lot with the proceeds. One can't go against that. Somebody might buy me one as a present. If I won I could pay off many of the debts of our diocese that would be the first objective. There are many good causes which I'd like to support in the diocese. But it's a big "if".
Wendy Perriam, novelist YAWN, YAWN. IF IT was any other subject I'd be prepared to talk to you all afternoon. It leaves me completely and utterly dead. Please ring me up on any other matter: Hell, Heaven, death, the Pope. I feel very strongly about them. I'm a very good Catholic. Aren't we taught not to care about money? There's my answer. I don't care about filthy lucre.
Paul Goggins, Director, Church Action on Poverty
WE'VE NOT DONE any detailed work on this. We're very concerned that people will spend money for necessities like food and clothing on the lottery when they're already struggling to make ends meet. They are being led up that path by advertising. Everybody knows you don't make money by gambling. Overall people lose... The Government argues that a lot of benefits will be ploughed back into the community. I pray it's given to those communities and groups that need it. If you look around a lot of charities are worried it's going to take money away from them. People will say, "I've bought a lottery ticket therefore I've done my bit for charity." They will be less likely CO give, even if it's only to a flag day in the town centre. The Government should ensure a) the areas with the greatest need get money and b) community groups should be able to access those funds. The bigger the scheme, the harder it is for small groups to access funding. I don't tend to buy things like lottery tickets because overall I'm not going to win. I've had premium bonds since the age of five and I've never won anything on them! I might buy a raffle ticket because I'd know the specific cause the money was going towards.
John Patten, MP (Cons) Oxford West and Abingdon
IT'S A SPLENDID idea. Irish Catholics have had one in their own country for years. Ours is long overdue.
Fr Columba Ryan OP, parish priest and teaches at Missionary Institute, Millhill I'M NOT HAPPY about it. It's appealing to everything wrong in the post-Thatcherite world. Asking for money without regard to what one's supposed to be helping. Only some 20 per cent is going to good causes, and some of them like sports and the arts are things the Government should be supporting anyway. It's a bit of a cheat. Charities stand to lose a lot of money cause of this monster rival. People are going to go into it to make money; the sense of helping charitable causes is going to be reduced to a minimum.
Greg Pope, MP (Lab) Hyndburn, Lancashire
I'M IN FAVOUR of the National Lottery; we are the only European country except Albania not to have one. Of course I am concerned with the effects of gambling, but really I look forward to having a flutter in a couple of weeks.