Commenting on today’s DCMS statement, Carole Souter, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF), said: "We understand that every Government department is reviewing the roles of arm’s length bodies and we will work with DCMS, and any other bodies involved, to ensure the very best outcome for the heritage while continuing to keep costs down."

"HLF has a specialist grant-making responsibility for the full range of heritage, across the entire UK. As well as the historic built environment, HLF invests in museums, the natural heritage of landscape and wildlife and people’s traditions and stories.

"The £10.5m* of investment we are announcing today shows how our funding reaches right across the UK. It is essential that projects like these can continue to benefit from Lottery funding.

"The National Heritage Memorial Fund also has a distinctive UK-wide role, supporting acquisitions for a range of heritage treasures from the Staffordshire Hoard to Turner’s Blue Rigi. It acts as the Government’s ‘fund of last resort’ moving quickly in emergencies to save important heritage when other fundraising has been exhausted. There is keen demand for its funding and we believe its role is crucial."

DCMS review of arm's length bodies.

Notes to editors

*Today, HLF is announcing £10.5m for four places of historic significance in Scotland, Wales and England. These are:

• Sir Walter Scott’s home, ‘Abbotsford’, in the Borders
• 18th-century Wrest Park in Bedfordshire
• Newbridge Memorial Hall in Caerphilly
• a Tudor dwelling house known as ‘The Walronds’ in Devon.

Further initial HLF support is also being awarded for projects in Staffordshire, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Suffolk and Worcestershire.

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.  HLF has supported 33,900 projects, allocating £4.4billion across the UK. 

HLF’s support for a broad range of heritage across the UK (as at 31 March ’09) includes:

• 21% of our funding invested in our natural heritage of landscape, wildlife and parks
• 30% of our funding invested in museums, libraries and archives
• 37% of our funding invested in the historic built environment
• 8% of our funding invested in the industrial, maritime and transport sector
• 4% of our funding invested in community heritage including the local heritage of tradition and oral history.

The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) – 30th Anniversary
The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) was set up thirty years ago to save the most outstanding parts of our national heritage, in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK. NHMF receives £10m per year in grant in aid. A diverse range of over 1,200 iconic objects and places have been safeguarded by the NHMF over the last 30 years, including:

• The Coenwulf Coin
• The Macclesfield Psalter
• The Mappa Mundi
• Mary Rose
• Flying Scotsman
• Tyntesfield
• The last surviving World War II destroyer, HMS Cavalier
• The personal archive of Siegfried Sassoon, WWI soldier, author and poet
• Skokholm Island, Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in Pembrokeshire
• Titian’s Diana and Actaeon
• Anthony d’Offay’s Collection
• Turner’s The Blue Rigi
• The Staffordshire Hoard
• Harold Pinter's Playscripts Archive
• Aerofilms Collection.

Further information

Katie Owen or Alison Scott, HLF Press Office on 020 7591 6036 / 07973 613 820