HC Deb 30 May 1957 vol 571 cc577-8
3. Mr. Cronin

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate odds against the holder of a £1 Premium Savings Bond winning a prize in the draws which will take place this year in June and July, respectively.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. J. Enoch Powell)

They will be 2,100 to 1 in June and 8,500 to 1 in July, assuming that there are no further encashments of bonds bought in November and December, 1956.

Mr. Cronin

Is not it very unfair that those people who purchased Premium Bonds in November should have four times as much chance of winning as those who purchased Premium Bonds in December? Now that the Government have entered the gambling business, will they at least try to lay fair odds for their customers?

Mr. Powell

The people who entered in December will, like everyone else, have a chance in the draw every month so long as they retain the Bonds.