Congratulations on your new promotion, you must be thrilled. Whilst you will have plenty of ideas of your own for your new role, I wondered if I could add a suggestion for your early attention.

The news that you have been appointed to this brief at a time when the coalition needs some positive press profile, and that you have a close working relationship with your old boss, George immediately suggests an obvious win-win.

Prior to your arrival at the Commons, George and the rest of the team were very upset when the previous Government borrowed £425M from the good causes account of the Big Lottery to help pay for some of the Olympic Stadia. The plan was to return these funds as soon as the Olympics were over, something your party insisted on. Sadly once in Government the relevant people got distracted and forgot to repay the debt. However now with limited good news from the various elements of the legacy proposals for London 2012, and with significant financial reserves in the treasury, along with real distrust amongst charities following the Lobbying Bill, why not play a master stroke.

If you could make an early announcement to repay the £425M, the news could suddenly turn in the direction of your department, as well as making the Government a great deal more popular than it is. Who knows this might even save you from a trouncing in next months elections.

Best wishes

Ian