§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister what study has been made of a national lottery; and what consideration has been given to the objectives of a scheme and objections to it.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Rothschild Royal Commission on Gambling, which reported in 1978, studied the matter in detail and recommended that there should be a single national lottery for good causes. A number of organisations have since undertaken studies of the merits of a national lottery, and the Government have kept the matter under review.
The objective most frequently suggested for a national lottery is to raise money for good causes.
Among the many other factors which have to be considered are the implications for gambling and the revenue raised, the impact on existing local charitable lotteries and charitable giving generally, and the use of the proceeds.