§ 33. Mr. ISAAC FOOTasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the £4,500,000 competition Sweepstake which is to be organized immediately and for which 9,000,000 tickets have been printed; and whether the organisation of such a competition will be allowed as being within the existing law?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Commissioner of Police, who is responsible for enforcing 1324 the law in the Metropolitan Police District, was advised that the scheme for this competition constituted an illegal lottery. He accordingly on the 23rd instant caused the promoters and the printers of the tickets to be warned that unless the scheme were abandoned forthwith he would have no alternative but to institute proceedings against those responsible. I understand that the scheme has now been abandoned.
§ Mr. FOOTMay I ask if, in the course of the inquiries, it was ascertained whether any breaches of the law had been made in the actual sale of the tickets, and, if so, will the appropriate proceedings be taken?
§ Sir J. GILMOUROf course, the police will take full cognisance of anything that has been done.
§ Mr. FOOTHaving regard to what has taken place in this matter, are the Government prepared to reconsider what was said last week; and, having regard to the urgency of this matter and the dislocation of our law, will the Government consider putting into operation some of the recommendations of the Lotteries Commission?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe Government must have time to consider the report of the commission.
§ Major MILNERApart from the legal considerations, has the right hon. Gentleman any reason to doubt the bond fides of the scheme and of those responsible for it?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI do not think that I am called upon to express any opinion about that.
§ Captain PETER MACDONALDIf a scheme such as this is illegal, why is so much money allowed to go out of the country to subsidise the Irish Free State Government, who in turn subsidise their industry against this country?