CONDUCT OF LOTTERY REGULATOR

Early day motion 719, tabled 2 February 1998 by Alan Williams (Labour). Signed by 23 members.

That this House believes that the Lottery Regulator should resign; notes that at the time of his appointment the Secretary of State warned him against taking excessive hospitality and that he ignored this advice and accepted the use of a G-Tech company aircraft during his US tour; notes that when challenged at a hearing of the Committee of Public Accounts, he did not recognise the risk he had created of an apparent conflict with his regulatory role which required unquestioned impartiality; accepts that he already had awarded the contract to Camelot when he took the offer of the use of the aircraft; points out that this excuse overlooks the fact that he had an ongoing series of further decisions to make and from which Camelot benefited; remembers that he was so insensitive about the vulnerability of the Regulator's Office that he condoned another member of his staff also using a G-Tech aircraft; finds it hard to understand his lack of judgement having regard both to the warnings he issued to Camelot about G-Tech's reputation and alleged practices and to his admission to the P.A.C. that he had no illusions about the American company; and recollects that also he failed to make a provision for claw-back of interest, allowing Camelot to make a windfall of ú6 million.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 1.