§ MR. S. SMITH (Flintshire)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware of the practice which obtains in some large towns of confectioners selling parcels of sweets to children, some few of which contain money, thereby encouraging a spirit of gambling among young children; whether he will take steps to enforce any provisions of the existing law which condemns such practice; and, whether he will introduce a Bill to punish not only the retailers, but also 1037 the makers and wholesale dealers of such packages?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have called for, and have received, Returns on this subject from Birmingham, Nottingham, Sunderland, and York—the places named in the letter addressed to me by the hon. Member. In three of those places proceedings have been taken under the Lotteries Act, with the view of checking or preventing the practice complained of. At York, the Chief Constable cannot ascertain that the law has been infringed. I think that the law, as it stands, gives sufficient power to the Local Authorities to deal with any real gambling; and if any instances of the law being evaded, or of the Local Authorities not taking action, are brought to my notice, I will do what I can to secure the observance of the law.