§ 78. Mr. BOTTOMLEYasked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the method adopted by the Bank of England and the Post Office in connection with the drawings for the redemption at their full face value of a large number of Victory Bonds issued last year at 85 per cent.; whether such drawing were made by means of revolving boxes containing numbered discs 2396 which were subsequently drawn with the assistance of young female employees; and whether the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown was taken prior to its adoption as to the legality of this procedure?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir G. Hewart)The drawings were, I understand, duly carried out in accordance with the Regulations made in pursuance of Section 2 of the War Loan Act, 1919, and there is no reason to doubt the legality of the method adopted. The advice of the Law Officers of the Crown was not necessary and was not asked.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYDoes the right hon. and learned Gentleman say that the War Loan Act made some provision for these boxes, and for young girls to draw the discs?
§ Sir G. HEWARTNo, Sir, I said that the Regulations made under the Act did.
§ Mr. GRITTENHow did it differ from the Golden Ballot?
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman seriously say on his own responsibility that the Clause to which he refers in the War Loan Act abrogates the Lottery Act?
§ Sir G. HEWARTNo, Sir, I said nothing of the kind.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYMay I take it that this was a lottery?
§ Sir G. HEWARTNo, Sir; that consequence does not follow.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYI will argue it elsewhere.