Memorandum from Mr Dallas Willcox (DGB
187)
Since last August, I have been corresponding
with Graham Caff at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
(DCMS) regarding the above. I am one of an estimated quarter of
a million people in the UK who are known as "compers"—our
fulfilling hobby being that of entering consumer competitions
and free draws (ie comping). I organise a local comping club and
am the author of a regular comping feature in Incentive Business
magazine.
When I learned of proposals to change the law
and, effectively, destroy comping as a hobby, I started to pass
on this information to fellow compers and I know that a number
of them have written to Mr Catt to express there concerns. However,
the DCMS appear to have ignored our interests and the proposals
remain unchanged.
I now understand that the provision in the Gambling
Bill are being considered by The Joint Committee on the Draft
Gambling Bill, which you Chair, and it is you to whom representations
need to be made. I am disappointed to learn from Mr Catt that
previous correspondence on this subject will not be forwarded
to you. I hope, therefore, that you will accept my assurance that
the concerns expressed below represent those of the vast majority
of compers. If, however, you would prefer our concerns to be expressed
to you individually, I am sure that I can arrange for a significant
number of compers to repeat the points that they made in their
letters to the DCMS. As an indication of the general feelings
of compers, I enclose a petition containing 132 signatures of
those attending a meeting of compers held in Birmingham just before
Christmas. (As I was not at that meeting to organise the collections
of signatures personally, I can only apologise for the coffee
stains on one of the sheets.)
The main concern of compers is that the creative
element of our hobby the element that generates so much satisfaction
from the hobby—is likely to disappear as an indirect result
of the proposed new legislation. There will be little incentive
for promoters to run tiebreaker (skill) competitions if they can
ensure that goods are purchased for participation in easier/cheaper
to run chance promotions.
Of course compers aim to win big prizes but,
in fact, many spend more on qualifiers, postage stamps and stationery
than the value of any prizes they receive. Often the prize fund
for a competition is quite low—eg a competition running
currently has a total prize fund of only £600. Comping is
rewarding in other ways, though—particularly in the satisfaction
obtained from sending off an entry with a well-prepared, "apt
and original" tiebreaker. Many compers look upon the task
each time as a challenge. The same level of satisfaction cannot
be obtained from entering prize draws, in which no skill is required.
Many compers are retired. The advantages they
see in entering competitions as a hobby include the fact that
it keeps their brains active and continues to give them a purpose
for living.
The provisions in the Lotteries and Amusements
Act 1976 give adequate protection for consumers—it is the
effective enforcement of the Act that is lacking.
If the proposals go ahead, the Government runs
the risk of alienating a significant section of the voting public.
I understand that we will also become "out of step"
with the rest of Europe—surely a situation to avoid?
On behalf of compers throughout the UK, I urge
you to reject the provisions that would lead to the creativity
in our valued hobby being put in jeopardy. If the content of this
letter requires clarification, or you need further information
and/or representations, please do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you for taking the trouble to read this letter.
I look forward to receiving a response from you in due course.
February 2004
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