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Gambling Act (On-course Bookmakers)

I shall be brief, Mr. Conway. The on-course bookmaker is a unique feature of the British horse racing scene, and we put him at risk at the peril of racing, in my view. People who go to our vastly improved race courses have a choice: they can bet with the bookie on the course, or with the Tote. As I think that some here know, I have been an adviser to the Tote for some time, and the last thing that it would want to see is the demise of the on-course bookmaker. The competition between them is a vibrant part of the racing scene. I do not believe for one minute that anyone running a race course in this country wants to see the demise of the on-course bookmaker either. Let us unite in the view that we must retain on-course bookmakers and the ability to bet on the Tote, which is a feature that does not exist in other parts of the world. If one goes to France, one can bet on the pari-mutuels, but not on the on-course bookmakers, which, quite frankly, apart from the fact that my French is not good enough to keep up with the commentary, I find a pretty miserable experience, compared with going to York, Newbury or Ascot, for example. Let us be clear about our objective. It cannot be said that nobody knew that this was about to happen. It was put out originally in the Budd report, six years ago, and in the Government’s response in 2003. The Joint Committee that looked at the Gambling Bill, which I chaired, took evidence from the National Joint Pitch Council—we received a written memorandum from it—and oral evidence from bookmakers. The issue under discussion was not the relevant one at the time; the issue was the betting exchanges and the fact that the levy board was to be abolished, and probably the levy as well. That was the question. I do not think that anyone quite knew the implications of this change. We have heard this morning about the funds that some bookmakers have paid for their pitches. We have all known for a long time that the current system is anachronistic and that generally there is support, even among bookmakers, for change. My right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr. Duncan Smith) has campaigned on behalf of bookmakers in his constituency about those problems. In a sense, there was a need for change, which now has to be introduced in a way that is fair and preserves the racing scene that I have just described. We need to take account of the fact that, as I have said, the levy was to be abolished, but now is not. On-course bookmakers have seen their margins reduced because of betting exchanges, which are growing. Of course, the abolition of off-course betting tax, which has been hugely beneficial to racing and off-course bookmakers, whose profits have grown, has put even more pressure on on-course bookmakers. There was a time when using an on-course bookmaker was the way to place a bet without paying tax, but that is the case no longer. We must recognise those pressures, find a system for regulating this new market, provide security and continuity for those with pitches, achieve fairness, and ensure that pitches remain attractive. I listened to the hon. Members for Hove (Ms Barlow) and for Livingston (Mr. Devine), the latter of whom is to be congratulated on securing this debate. However, we must bear in mind also the need to ensure on-course attendance by those bookmakers, because, quite frankly—far be it for me to decry any one of Yorkshire’s nine race courses—a rainy day at Catterick on new year’s eve is a pretty miserable experience. I have been there many times on new year’s eve, and it usually rains and there are not normally many people about. If we want those on-course bookmakers to remain, we must listen to their arguments. Ensuring their attendance is critical. We now have more than 1,500 fixtures on race courses—that is a hell of a lot of on-course bookmaker hours, and we need to ensure that they continue. I agree with the hon. Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) that we need to achieve consensus. With regard to changes in the Gambling Act 2005, I would be surprised if the Minister’s response was that the Government would reopen the primary legislation, because, with all the other issues outstanding, it would be a can of worms. However, we need to achieve consensus. We have five years to sit down and discuss a way through these issues. I am sure that I speak also for the hon. Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough when I say that the all-party racing and bloodstock group is ready, willing and able to sit down and be a conduit through which those discussions can take place.