ALISTAIR Darling will today warn volunteers that good causes could lose out on vital cash in an independent Scotland when the National Lottery ends.
In a speech to a Scottish Council for Voluntary Oganisations' event in Glasgow, he will describe the game is an example of "pooling and sharing resources" across the UK.
He will tell charity leaders at the event: "As part of the United Kingdom, we have more funds at our disposal to bring about the kind of change our communities need.
"Shutting ourselves off from what we know has worked makes no sense.
"Projects and groups in Scotland have received substantial funding from the National Lottery.
"It's a cross-border relationship that works, but only because we are part of the UK.
"Leaving the UK would fundamentally change that."
He will add: "On too many issues that are essential to allowing Scotland's third sector to continue the important work it does, the Nationalists have been found wanting."
Mr Darling, the head of the pro-UK Better Together campaign, will make his comments at the SCVO's The Gathering at the SECC this morning.
A spokesman for Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "The position on the Lottery was detailed in the White Paper, which Mr Darling still seems not to have read - the current licence to run it is in place to 2023, and the National Lottery will continue to operate in Scotland after independence.
"We will ensure that Scotland receives our fair share of funding from the National Lottery."
Mr Swinney added that Scotland currently receives its fair share of funding from the game and the Big Lottery Fund, sportscotland, Creative Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund which distribute good cause money across Scotland.
He suggested in the event of independence, decision making in Scotland would benefit local communities.
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