HL Deb 02 July 1997 vol 581 cc35-6WA
Lord Lucas

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 17 June (WA 107), whether they agree that relatively facile "games of skill" or lotteries, particularly those promoted through radio and television programmes, should also be accompanied by information as to the average return or the chance of winning, or both; and if so whether they have any plans to encourage the provision of such information or to legislate for it.

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The law on lotteries controls games of chance, not skill.

Skill competitions on premium rate telephone lines are regulated by the Independent Committee for the Standards of Telephone Information Services (ICSTIS).

My reply of 17 June (Official Report, col. 107) sets out my view on presentation of information about lotteries. We have no current plans to amend the legislation.

Any misrepresentation of lotteries as games of skill is a matter for the police.