K SOWERBUTT'S suggestion of having a list of good causes printed on Lottery tickets so buyers could tick off their own choice of good cause, is an excellent idea.
In fact, in a letter to the BEN in February 1999, I suggested doing exactly that.
I wrote: "When every hospital in the country has all the ultra modern machinery, beds and well trained staff to deal with any emergency, then maybe we should consider funding opera and ballet companies, orchestras, or theatres that just aren't popular enough to get enough bums on seats to finance themselves.
"Why don't the Government ask the people who buy the Lottery tickets what they want?
"Surely these hi-tech Lottery machines can be programmed to acknowledge a cross on the ticket, made against the buyers choice."
It is such a good idea, that the People's Lottery, run by Richard Branson, is thinking of adopting it.
Does Sir Richard read the BEN?
Brian Derbyshire
Ribchester Grove
Bolton
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