SINGAPORE SWEEP TICKETS (Figures and proceeds)

Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Finance if he knows how many Singapore Sweep tickets have been sold up to a latest convenient date; and what percentage of the proceeds is collected by Government and what percentage is retained by the Singapore Turf Club.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance (Mr S. Ramaswamy) (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Sweep is run by the Singapore Turf Club. According to the Singapore Turf Club, 2½ million tickets were printed for the first draw and all the tickets have been sold. The Singapore Turf Club has agreed to hand over to the Government the entire proceeds from the sale of tickets after deducting running expenses, payment of prizes, and agents' commission. The sum which the Singapore Turf Club is deducting for running expenses is approximately 3.2 per cent of the gross proceeds of the lottery.