QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE (Hansard, 24 January 1977)

§ Mr. Lipton

I wish to submit for your consideration, Mr. Speaker, the following question of privilege. It arises from an article which appears in the Sunday People newspaper of 23rd January on page 42, under the heading "Pay up". It reads as follows:

"Bookmaking will be finished if it does not meet the Tote halfway in the drive for more prize-money, writes Jonathan Powell.

This is the startling claim of racehorse owner Tony Stratton-Smith, who joined the seven-strong Tote board in September. He says 'the bookies' powerful lobby in Parliament is one of the major problems facing the Tote's recent submission on gambling'.

Privately, the Tote are prepared to claim that as many as 60 MPs are receiving payments or inducements to promote the cause of bookmaking in the Commons."

The article goes on to other topics.

984 That is the question of privilege that I wish to submit to you, Sir. I have no doubt that, in accordance with the customary practice, you will be able to give your ruling, tomorrow—I hope to the effect that there is a prima facie case.