HL Deb 06 December 1977 vol 387 cc1455-6
Lord MONTAGU of BEAULIEU

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will raise the limits for prizes under Section 9(7) of the Lotteries Act 1975.

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, the Government do not propose at present to raise the limits for prizes under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976, which was a consolidating measure which replaced the 1975 Act.

Lord MONTAGU of BEAULIEU

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer. Would he not agree that it would be unrealistic not to take inflation into account when setting the prize limits for lotteries? Is he not aware that there are many charities in this country which are suffering very much as a result of this limitation, because the most popular prizes, which are small family cars, are all now priced at over £2,000?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I accept that the retail price index rose by about 34 per cent. between July 1975, when the 1975 Act was passed, and September 1977. But what we have to keep in the forefront of our minds is the fact that this particular provision took effect so far as local authorities were concerned only since 1st May of this year, and I do not honestly think that there has been sufficient time to assess what the Act has achieved. I would remind the noble Lord, and other noble Lords, that the Royal Commission on Gambling, which is to report during the early part of next year, may have something to say about lotteries in general. In view of the short period that has elapsed since the Act took effect, I think that we ought to wait for the Commission's comments.

Lord SEGAL

My Lords, would my noble friend not accept that there is a distinction between gambling for charities and gambling for private gain? Would he not urge his right honourable friend to give further consideration to this matter?

Lord WELLS-PESTELL

My Lords, I do not know whether the Government draw any distinction between the two cases. So far as I am concerned, gambling is gambling.

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