§ 21. Mr. LEVYasked the Postmaster-General whether it is the intention of the Post Office to intercept whenever possible single lottery tickets sent from Dublin to individuals in this country; and, if not, whether he will state if there is any limit to the number of tickets for a single individual which will be permitted to pass through the post?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)I have been asked to reply. As I recently stated in Parliament, it will not be an offence under the new Act, any more than it is under the existing law, for a person to purchase a ticket for his own use. But it would frustrate the intention of Parliament if the post were allowed to be used for the dissemination of tickets in lotteries promoted in Ireland or other countries. In these cir- 487 cumstances the existing practice will be continued under which the Postmaster-General, acting on my instructions, will detain tickets distributed through the post by known lottery promoters or their agents outside this country.
§ Mr. LEVYMay I ask my right hon. Friend how he reconciles the legality of sending 10s. to Ireland for a lottery ticket with the fact that, when that lottery ticket is sent back to the person who supplies the 10s., it is to be stopped by the Postmaster-General? If that is to be the practice, are we to understand that every letter to and from Ireland will be intercepted by the General Post Office?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIt is quite clear that the intention of Parliament is to stop this practice, and that will be done.
§ Mr. THORNE; May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, if I sent the money for six tickets to Dublin, and if six tickets were sent to me and I sold five of them to Members of Parliament, that would be illegal?