National Lottery

Lord Sharkey Excerpts

Tuesday 18th December 2012 Lords Chamber

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I will stick to my original answer: my understanding is that it is up to the Gambling Commission to decide these matters.

[Lord Sharkey]

But, my Lords, the Gambling Commission itself has recently stated in court proceedings that the Health Lottery was clearly designed to circumvent the proceeds limits, the gambling equivalent of a tax avoidance scheme that exploits loopholes in legislation. Is the Government not about closing such loopholes?

[Viscount Younger of Leckie]

I thank my noble friend for that question, but the holistic approach to the lottery, which includes the National Lottery and the Health Lottery, has proved highly successful and we hope that it will continue. However, the Government will continue to monitor the progress of the operation, particularly of the Health Lottery and the society lotteries.