§ 24. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Home Secretary the amount estimated to have been subscribed to the various Irish sweepstakes, and the amounts distributed in prizes, in Great Britain; and whether he proposes to take steps to prohibit publication by newspapers of prizes, prize winners, and other aids to this form of gambling?
§ Mr. HACKINGOn the assumption that the amount subscribed in Great Britain to the sweepstakes promoted by the Hospitals Trust, Limited, Dublin, is proportionate to the prizes known to have been won in this country, the Royal Commission on Lotteries and Betting calcu- 310 late that up to and including the sweepstake on the Grand National, 1933, a sum of £18,745,000 was subscribed in Great Britain. On the same basis it is estimated that £2,500,000 was subscribed in Great Britain to the sweepstake on the Derby, 1933. The total amount thus subscribed in Great Britain to the nine sweepstakes promoted by the Hospitals Trust Limited is approximately £21,200,000. The amount won as prizes in Great Britain is approximately £11,330,000. As regards the second part of the question, this is one of the matters which His Majesty's Government will consider in the light of the recommendations made in the Report of the Royal Commission.
§ Mr. LAMBERTHaving regard to the magnitude of these figures, may I ask. My right hon. Friend whether the Government have any power to prevent crazy British people contributing to the revenues of this defaulting Irish State?
§ Sir HERBERT SAMUELHas my right hon. Friend any figures at hand to show how much of the amount subscribed was spent on expenses, how much went to the hospitals, and how much to the revenues of the Irish Free State?
§ Mr. HACKINGNo, I have not got that information available.
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSHow many of these prizes went to Darwen?