§ 13. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of letters that have now been intercepted on instructions from his Department for the Irish hospital sweepstake on the Derby; and can he state the amount of money or its equivalent that has been returned to the senders?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Clynes)For the reasons already given on the 3rd February and the 2nd of this month, it would not be in the public interest for me to give this information.
§ Mr. CLYNESYes, I understand that the money is always returned.
§ 50. Mr. DAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any instructions have been issued to the customs officers of Great Britain to intercept lottery tickets issued for the Irish sweepstakes, either on the recent Grand National or the forthcoming Derby; and will he give particulars of these instructions and state the number of tickets that have been so far intercepted?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)It is part of the ordinary duty of customs officers to enforce the law, including the provisions contained in Section 1 of the Revenue Act, 1898, in regard to articles the importation of which is prohibited. I regret that I am unable to give particulars of the number of tickets for Irish sweepstakes seized on importation contrary to the prohibition.
§ Mr. DAYCan my hon. Friend say whether any of the travellers have been 1128 searched, or whether they have been merely requested to say if they have any of these tickets in their luggage?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEI cannot give any particular details.
§ Mr. HAYCOCKDoes the hon. Gentleman know that my hon. Friend has his pockets full of them?