§ 21. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why he has approved a State lottery in Gibraltar; and whether he will make a statement.
Mr. Creech JonesThis is not an innovation in Colonial territories. The introduction of a Government lottery in Gibraltar has been approved, because public opinion there has for a long time past been strongly in favour of this means of raising revenue and has asked for it because, while other forms of taxation are being examined and developed, additional revenue is urgently required to finance important housing and other public projects; and because there has been an appreciable outflow of funds from Gibraltar into the Spanish State Lottery operated in neighbouring Spanish town's, with consequent loss of foreign exchange. The announcement of this decision has been received with general satisfaction in the Colony.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeIs this to be taken as a precedent for the adoption and running of State lotteries in other parts of the Empire, because, if so, it is going seriously to disturb a lot of people at home, particularly if we are to have a State lottery here?
Mr. Creech JonesThis was in response to a very special request in Gibraltar, and, as I said, it is not an innovation in Colonial territories.
§ Captain John CrowderWill people in this country be able to have tickets?
§ Mr. Hector HughesAs one of the reasons that a State lottery was authorised appears to have been that there was a considerable outflow of money from Gibraltar into Spain, is it now put forward as a reason why we should have a State lottery in this country, that a lot of British money is going from this country into the Eire lottery?
§ Sir R. RossWill it be possible for the profits of this lottery to go to the unfortunate refugees now in Northern Ireland?
Mr. Creech JonesEvery effort is being made to transfer to Gibraltar refugees in Northern Ireland, but that is quite a different question from the one on the Order Paper.