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The Tote

I am trying to draw my remarks to a close, Mr. Gale. I thank my right hon. Friend for his intervention and his clarification of the model that he suggested. I hope that the Minister will respond specifically to it in summing up. I have not underlined the significance of the Tote to the local economy in Wigan. I speak as a former leader of Barnsley, which is in the same group of authorities and is similar in size to Wigan, another white working-class area. Barnsley is on the wrong side of the Pennines, but apart from that, it has many characteristics in common with Wigan. As a former leader of Barnsley, I would hate to lose a big company like that with an international reputation. I hope that that aspect will be uppermost in the Minister's deliberations if and when he comes to a decision. I will finish on a couple of points that were raised earlier. The Minister mentioned the outstanding Turf TV case. I understand that the jury will deliberate on 31 July. I am sure that appeals will be made, which will drag out the case. It is probably a commercially sensitive situation, what with Goldman Sachs. Can he outline how many bids have been received and how many of those he feels are positive bids that ought to be considered rather than dismissed? How many are serious bids? One point on which I disagreed with the hon. Member for Tewkesbury involved referring the matter back to Europe. It took two years to bottom it the last time it was referred to Europe, and I can see it dragging out for a further two years. That is the last thing that the people of Wigan want. I will leave it there. The issue is important to the House, but it is particularly important to the people who work in Wigan.