asked the Home Secretary whether he has come to a decision as to the intervention asked for by local residents in respect of the Otley sweepstake; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

Mr. HENDERSON:

Proceedings are being taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Home Secretary whether, before the mail addressed to the Otley Conservative Club Derby sweepstakes organisation or to the Actors' Association at Liverpool was intercepted under orders from his Department and proceedings initiated against the promoters, the chief constable or police authorities gave official notification to the promoters that a breach of the law was being committed; and whether the procedure adopted in the case of the two organisations alluded to was identical with what followed in the case of the mammoth draw organised by the Bootle Trades and Labour Council?

Mr. HENDERSON:

A warning was given by the police to the promoters of the sweepstakes organised by the Otley Unionist Club and the Liverpool Branch of the Actors' Association before any action was taken. The procedure adopted in these two cases, and in the case of the mammoth draw organised by the Bootle Trades and Labour Council, has been substantially the same.

asked the Home Secretary (I) whether his attention has been called to a grand draw organised by the Kingswinford Divisional Labour Party, offering prizes of a pair of lady's hoots, six pounds of pork, a fowl, a bottle of port, a bottle of whisky, and a half-a-dozen tumblers; and whether he proposes to take any action against the organisers;

(2) whether the Post Office are confiscating the in-coming mail addressed to W. Willetts, the chairman of the Kingswinford Divisional Labour party in respect of the grand draw organised by that party for, inter alia, a gent's suit, a lady's costume, a ton of coal, a ham about 32 pounds, and a shaving outfit?

Mr. HENDERSON:

My attention has not previously been called to this matter, and I am making inquiry.

Will the right hon. Gentleman deal with the question of the bottle of port and the bottle of whisky?

Will he inquire if any Member of the House has won the gent's suit?