Stuart Andrew’s brief has expanded to include gambling and lotteries, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has confirmed.
The minister for civil society and loneliness’ new responsibilities add to his current briefs of sport, tourism, youth, ceremonials (including the Coronation), events (including Eurovision) as well as arts and heritage in the House of Commons.
Andrew is also minister for equalities in the Department for Business and Trade, on top of his responsibilities at DCMS, in a role that was moved to the newly created department in February.
Sarah Vibert, chief executive at NCVO, said the lotteries role complimented Andrew’s civil society responsibilities but said his brief was now “extremely broad”.
The People’s Postcode Lottery welcomed Andrew’s appointment as gambling minister and renewed its call for limits on the amount society lotteries can raise to be scrapped.
‘Extremely broad’ brief
Sarah Vibert, chief executive at NCVO said: “The minister has engaged well with civil society so far and shown willingness to work together. However, the scale of the current challenge facing charities can’t been underestimated as cost-of-living pressures deepen and we see escalating societal need.
“This really is a pivotal moment for charities with increased demand, fewer resources and financial crisis. For any government, building community resilience and supporting those who are most marginalised in society by working with voluntary organisations must be a priority.
“Some of the minister’s portfolio is complimentary to charities such as the new addition of the regulation of lotteries as we need to make sure they operate fairly and effectively to deliver money for good causes. However, it is also extremely broad, and we would be concerned if there is enough capacity to really give our sector the focus it needs and deserves.”
The People’s Postcode Lottery’s managing director Clara Govier welcomed Andrew to the lotteries sector.
“We welcome Mr Andrew to his new role and also the fact that policy for charities and charity lotteries now both sit with the same minister,” she said.
“The charity lottery sales limits are causing increasing difficulties for charity lottery fundraising at a time when charities need these vital funds to respond to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and it is time for the government to take action, and ideally scrap these outdated limits on our fundraising.”
Andrew became civil society minister in October last year.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to include comment from NCVO.
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