Bermuda could be in line to benefit from charity cash generated by the UK Lottery, according to a British government minister visiting the Island.

Henry Bellingham told a press conference at Government House today it seemed “quite wrong and anomalous” that Britain’s 14 Overseas Territories don’t enjoy the fruits of the National Lottery.

“It raises a vast amount of money and pays out billions of pounds but it’s not allowed to dispense money for good causes in the Overseas Territories,” he said.

“I find that extraordinary. Ninety-five percent of Britain’s biodiversity is in the Overseas Territories.”

The Overseas Territories Minister said there was a “complete illogicality” about not having the money available for the “280,000-odd” citizens of the territories and that it seemed “grossly unfair” to withhold it from those with British passports.

“It seems to me quite wrong and anomalous that they can’t enjoy the benefits of the lottery fund.”

The Conservative MP said he planned to meet with the bodies responsible for dishing out lottery cash as a “priority”.

Mr Bellingham leaves Bermuda tonight after a three-day visit during which he launched consultation on the UK Government’s new Overseas Territories White Paper, the first such review in a decade.

He fielded questions from the media today on tax issues, the mismanagement of public funds, immigration rules and the four Uighurs who came here from Guantánamo Bay without Britain’s permission.

Read more in tomorrow’s edition of

The Royal Gazette.