§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ 3.59 p.m.
§ Mr. Graham Page (Crosby)I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
The purpose of the Bill is to legalise national sweepstakes in order to provide funds for pioneering work in hospitals and for medical and surgical research work in general. I understand that the Government oppose this extremely popular Measure, for some extraordinary reason. Therefore, I hope by full debate at a later date to persuade them to fall into line with public opinion which has expressed itself very forcibly in favour of national sweepstakes to save our medical research from national disaster, and in a very popular and enjoyable way.
At present, the Government are spending a totally inadequate sum—£11 million a year—on medical research work. Based on the proceeds of national sweepstakes in other countries, I have estimated that between £30 million and £50 million a year could be obtained by means of a national sweepstake in this country for medical research and hospital pioneering work——
§ It being Four o'clock, the debate stood adjourned.
§ Debate to be resumed upon Friday, 17th March.