Scratch Cards In Teenage Magazines

EDM number 586 in 1996-97, proposed by Lynne Jones on 26/02/1997.

That this House expresses its grave concern about one of the newest ventures of the premium rate phone line industry involving the placement of free scratch cards in teenage magazines, on winning which children are told to call a premium rate number to claim their prize; notes that these calls may cost up to three pounds or more; further notes that while, technically, these prizes may be claimed by writing to the company, this information is contained in print many times smaller than the premium rate telephone number; points out that gambling problems in later life often begin in the early teenage years; accepts that this scheme is not technically a lottery, but a premium rate 'lucky dip', but fails to see any significant difference in its possible effects on the development of negative gambling behaviour in children; calls upon the regulatory body for the industry, ICSTIS, to implement stronger measures to prevent this type of exploitation; notes, with regret, that ICSTIS, the only body directly concerned with the regulation of premium rate telephone lines, is funded directly by the industry itself; and feels that the public would be more reassured if a review were to be carried out by a wholly independent body.

This motion has been signed by a total of 49 MPs.