HC Deb 03 December 1992 vol 215 cc325-7W
Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what advice he has received on the impact of the proposed national lottery on the football pools if the total percentage taken out in tax and in payments to good causes were identical for pools and national lottery;

(2) what advice he has received on the impact of the proposed national lottery on football pools assuming no changes are made in the current rules governing the pools operation and promotion;

(3) what advice he has received on the impact of the proposed national lottery on football pools if pools were permitted (a) to be promoted to potential clients who want to use lucky numbers rather than skill and judgment in placing their bets, (b) to run roll-over jackpots, (c) to be advertised on television or (d) to have pools coupons collected from shops;

(4) what advice he has received on the consequences for the proposed national lottery's turnover if the lottery were not to offer instant games;

(5) what advice he has received on the number of jobs lost in the football pools industry if the national lottery is introduced and no changes are permitted in the regime governing football pools operation and promotion;

(6) what advice he has received on the consequence for the proposed national lottery's turnover if (a) the number of types of retailer handling lottery tickets were restricted to one, (b) if it were not advertised on television or (c) limits were imposed on prizes and jackpots;

(7) what advice he has received on the impact of the proposed national lottery on retail sales of newspapers and sweets.

Mr. Brooke

The Department commissioned a firm of consultants to advise on a number of aspects of the national lottery. This advice was intended to identify the key determinants for a successful lottery. Among the matters covered was advice on the issues the hon. Member raises in his questions. This advice contained a number of illustrative scenarios based on ranges of assumptions. Much of the information in the report is commercially sensitive to those who provided it, and I do not intend to publish the report.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice he has received on the impact of the proposed national lottery on funding for football, assuming no changes in the rules governing pools operation and promotion.

Mr. Brooke

I have received a number of letters from chairmen of football clubs and the Football Trust, which refer to the concerns expressed by the pools companies.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will allow representatives of the GAH consulting group to meet representatives of the pools promoters to discuss its report on the impact of the proposed national lottery on football pools.

Mr. Brooke

GAH is bound by normal Government contract conditions not to disclose details of its report.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice he has received on the impact of the proposed national lottery on the sale of premium bonds.

Mr. Brooke

Internal advice suggests that the products offered by these two schemes are very different. Premium bonds are a savings instrument. We expect both schemes to be viable.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he last met the Pools Promoters Association members to discuss the proposed national lottery.

Mr. Brooke

My officials have met the Pools Promoters Association to discuss the national lottery on a number of occasions, most recently on 4 November. I am due to meet the chairman and representatives of the pools companies on 9 December.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his latest forecast of the projected annual income of the national lottery.

Mr. Brooke

All forecasts at this stage must be speculative. I hope that the national lottery will generate substantial sums for good causes.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many reports have been commissioned on the impact of the national lottery on football pools.

Mr. Brooke

The GAH group was commissioned to undertake a report to help the Department shape its legislation on the national lottery. Part of this report looked at the possible effects of the national lottery on the pools industry.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the cost to public funds of the research he has commissioned on the impact of the national lottery on football pools.

Mr. Brooke

The GAH report, commissioned to cover a wide range of issues, cost £44,985.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps he is taking to ensure that football pools are not damaged by the introduction of the national lottery.

Mr. Brooke

The football pools companies have compiled a list of the relaxations they would like to see to the regime which regulates their operations. The Government are considering whether any changes are appropriate.

Mr. Ashton

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what advice he has received on the impact of the proposed national lottery on lotteries run by sports clubs.

Mr. Brooke

A number of organisations which run small lotteries, including sports clubs, have submitted information in response to the White Paper "A National Lottery Raising Money for Good Causes".