Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of large prize draws on the ticket sales of the National Lottery.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Department is considering the findings of independent research commissioned in 2023, which looked at the size and nature of the prize draw market, and the relationship with the lotteries sector.
This research is informing our policy considerations, and I will update Parliament in due course.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have received regarding the potential increase in charitable funding in Northern Ireland should large British society lotteries extend their operations there.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Gambling is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and therefore the operation of large-scale society lotteries is a matter for the Northern Irish Executive.
Large-scale society lotteries in Great Britain are legislated through the Gambling Act 2005, which does not extend to Northern Ireland. The National Lottery operates under separate legislation and is able to sell tickets in Northern Ireland and distribute good cause money there.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk posed by the National Lottery to problem gamblers in relation to that posed by society lotteries.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Gambling Survey for Great Britain (2023) found that lottery products are associated with the lowest harm rates, as measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).
The survey estimated that problem gamblers (scoring 8 or more on the PGSI) in the 12 months prior to survey publication were slightly more common among those who played society lottery draws (4.6%), compared to those who played National Lottery draw-based games (3.9%).
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the basis for the National Lottery and large-scale prize draws operating in Northern Ireland while British society lotteries are unable to do so.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Gambling is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and therefore the operation of large-scale society lotteries is a matter for the Northern Irish Executive.
Large-scale society lotteries in Great Britain are legislated through the Gambling Act 2005, which does not extend to Northern Ireland. The National Lottery operates under separate legislation and is able to sell tickets in Northern Ireland and distribute good cause money there.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the complementary nature of the National Lottery and society lotteries.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The lotteries sector provides vital funding for charities and other good causes. The Government wants to see society lotteries continue to thrive, without undermining the unique position of the National Lottery.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to permit the operation of large Great Britain-based society lotteries in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Gambling is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland, and therefore the operation of large-scale society lotteries is a matter for the Northern Irish Executive.
Large-scale society lotteries in Great Britain are legislated through the Gambling Act 2005, which does not extend to Northern Ireland. The National Lottery operates under separate legislation and is able to sell tickets in Northern Ireland and distribute good cause money there.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will announce their plans for the reform of regulation surrounding society lotteries, including any increase in prize limits, following the consultation which closed on 7 September 2018.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
There were over 1,600 responses to the consultation. We are carefully considering the evidence and hope to respond to the consultation in the first half of this year.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish their Digital Charter to address online bullying.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
As part of our work on the Digital Charter, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport published an Internet Safety Strategy on 11 October which focuses on keeping all users safe online. The Strategy covers the responsibilities of companies to their users, the use of technical solutions to prevent online harms and Government's role in supporting users.
The Strategy consults on the introduction of the social media code of practice, as laid out in the Digital Economy Act 2017, which will address conduct that involves bullying or insulting an individual online, or other behaviour likely to intimidate or humiliate the individual.
The consultation will close on 7 December and we will publish a Government response in early 2018.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what work will be done to ensure that the Gambling Commission will not share information with overseas regulators without (1) being requested to do so, and (2) first obtaining the approval of the relevant licensee.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Gambling Commission considers a range of criteria when sharing information and is subject to oversight on data protection and use of surveillance powers by the Information Commissioner, the Interception of Communications Commissioner and the Office of Surveillance Commissioners. In view of the complexity of this area I have asked the Gambling Commission’s Chief Executive to write to my noble Friend directly on the matter of information sharing. A copy of her letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Asked by: Lord Mancroft (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria the Gambling Commission will use (1) to establish whether it is appropriate to share information with other statutory bodies in the United Kingdom or overseas, and (2) to determine whether the information it is intending to share is relevant to the functions of such bodies.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Gambling Commission considers a range of criteria when sharing information and is subject to oversight on data protection and use of surveillance powers by the Information Commissioner, the Interception of Communications Commissioner and the Office of Surveillance Commissioners. In view of the complexity of this area I have asked the Gambling Commission’s Chief Executive to write to my noble Friend directly on the matter of information sharing. A copy of her letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.