HC Deb 27 July 1938 vol 338 cc3129-30W
Mr. Quibell

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Scunthorpe War Memorial Hospital estimate a loss of £900 on their recent annual carnival because it rained heavily on that day and, as the law at present stands, they are prevented from selling tickets in advance; and, as this and similar hospitals rely on these efforts to finance them in their work, will he consider amending the Betting and Lotteries Act so that such tickets can be sold in advance?

Mr. Lloyd

Section 23 (2) of the Betting and Lotteries Act, 1934, provides that, if a lottery is promoted in connection with such an entertainment as that to which the hon. Member refers, it must comply with certain specified restrictions, one of which is that tickets for the lottery may not be sold except on the premises at which the entertainment takes place and during the progress of the entertainment. The restrictions imposed by this Section of the Act were enacted in pursuance of recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Betting and Lotteries for the specific purpose of limiting the scope and extent of lotteries of this type; and in view of the considerations set out in the Royal Commission's report, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to introduce legislation designed to relax any of those restrictions.