§ 9. Sir GEORGE PENNYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has yet come to any decision to appoint a committee to inquire into the legislation of sweepstakes in this country?
§ Mr. CLYNESNo, Sir.
§ Sir G. PENNYShould the right hon. Gentleman decide to set up a committee, will he consider the advisability of including in the terms of reference provisions whereby they can consider how far Government Departments and the Press supporting the Government are transgressing?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe hon. Member will find some of those points covered in the reply I am giving later on in answer to a question.
§ Mr. MARJORIBANKSDid any Socialist Members go to Dublin?
§ Mr. CLYNESYou can tell me better than I can tell you.
§ 11. Mr. DAYasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the public interest 331 taken in the Irish hospitals sweepstakes held on the Derby and other English races, he will now consider the question of setting up a committee to inquire into the conditions that would be necessary and appropriate for the purpose of altering our existing lottery laws?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe matter is now under consideration.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has been advised that the particulars with regard to the sweepstakes published in the daily newspapers are also an offence against the Lottery Law?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe variety of advice given to the Home Office in these matters is in excess of the usual amount.
§ Mr. CLYNESA later answer will indicate that.
§ Mr. C. WILLIAMSMay we expect a decision on the matter?
§ Mr. CLYNESYou may, but I can say no more at present.
§ 37. Mr. SHILLAKERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that one-third of the revenue of Tasmania is raised by consultations; if he will inquire in what form these consultations are held; and whether he will consider the adoption of a similar form of voluntary taxation in this country?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)If, as I understand, a "consultation" is the Tasmanian equivalent of a sweepstake, my right hon. Friend would not be disposed to follow up my hon. Friend's suggestions. I must not be understood to accept the assertion that one-third of the revenue of Tasmania is raised in this way.
§ Mr. SHILLAKERMay I assure my hon. Friend that I was informed by a gentleman resident in Tasmania for some six years that a third of the revenue is raised from consultations? This gentleman has now gone to another dependency. Would it not be worth while considering 332 whether such a mode of contribution to the revenue would be acceptable in this country?
12. Mr. ERNEST WINTERTONasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the encouragement given to sweepstakes by the publication in the public Press of the names of the prize winners, he will consider the advisability of legislation prohibiting newspapers from publishing such lists?
§ Mr. CLYNESThe whole question is under consideration, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement.
Mr. WINTERTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the circulation of these newspapers doubled during the period?
§ Mr. CLYNESI have no definite knowledge on that matter. I cannot make a definite statement at present.