Westminster Hall adjournment debate on betting in horse racing.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on betting in horse racing.

The Minister said that my constituent and the hon. Lady’s constituent have been to the courts, but the key point that I have made today is that the levy board and the NJPC simply perjured themselves in those court cases. They said that the lists were not available and that...

The Minister said that my constituent and the hon. Lady’s constituent have been to the courts, but the key point that I have made today is that the levy board and the NJPC simply perjured themselves in those court cases. They said that the lists were not available and that...

This is important; I hope that the right hon. Gentleman takes note. The new regime provides an appropriate regulatory structure for on-course betting in Britain. The regime addresses the three objectives of the Act, which are to keep gambling fair, to keep it crime-free and to protect the vulnerable, particularly...

This is important; I hope that the right hon. Gentleman takes note. The new regime provides an appropriate regulatory structure for on-course betting in Britain. The regime addresses the three objectives of the Act, which are to keep gambling fair, to keep it crime-free and to protect the vulnerable, particularly...

The Minister said that there is not enough time to go through all the detail of what has been said here today. When he reflects on the debate, will he consider having a cross-party meeting to discuss these matters in greater detail and to consider whether they need to be...

The Minister said that there is not enough time to go through all the detail of what has been said here today. When he reflects on the debate, will he consider having a cross-party meeting to discuss these matters in greater detail and to consider whether they need to be...

It is very serious to say that people have perjured themselves. If one makes those serious allegations, one has to make them stand up. The courts are there to make sure that matters stand up. We make the laws and they carry them out. That case has to be a...

It is very serious to say that people have perjured themselves. If one makes those serious allegations, one has to make them stand up. The courts are there to make sure that matters stand up. We make the laws and they carry them out. That case has to be a...

I assure the hon. Gentleman that there has been dialogue with my officials and with the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green.

I assure the hon. Gentleman that there has been dialogue with my officials and with the right hon. Member for Chingford and Woodford Green.

No.

No.

The right hon. Gentleman has met my officials.

The right hon. Gentleman has met my officials.

Not since the report.

Not since the report.

Well, the right hon. Gentleman has met my officials several times. If a dialogue is needed, hon. Members can meet my officials or me before we have the discussion with the working group. That might not be a bad idea, but I assure hon. Members that this matter is extremely...

Well, the right hon. Gentleman has met my officials several times. If a dialogue is needed, hon. Members can meet my officials or me before we have the discussion with the working group. That might not be a bad idea, but I assure hon. Members that this matter is extremely...

The facts are fundamentally wrong.

The facts are fundamentally wrong.

The Minister ought to get from his officials a copy of the letter that Stevenson wrote in response to the report. He has denied all that and made it absolutely clear that he had nothing to do with that and that he did not know of any change to the...

The Minister ought to get from his officials a copy of the letter that Stevenson wrote in response to the report. He has denied all that and made it absolutely clear that he had nothing to do with that and that he did not know of any change to the...

We are not going to resolve this issue in the debate. I will look into this matter with my officials. At the end of my speech I shall say how we think matters should proceed. I thank the right hon. Gentleman for referring to the important issue of money laundering....

We are not going to resolve this issue in the debate. I will look into this matter with my officials. At the end of my speech I shall say how we think matters should proceed. I thank the right hon. Gentleman for referring to the important issue of money laundering....

I have given it.

I have given it.

If the right hon. Gentleman has evidence of perjury in the courts—

If the right hon. Gentleman has evidence of perjury in the courts—

That must be taken back to the courts.

That must be taken back to the courts.

What is the composition of the working group? I add my voice to that of the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Richard Younger-Ross), because many issues have not come up in the debate, such as the conduct of auctions, which the Minister brought up himself. Will they also fall within the...

What is the composition of the working group? I add my voice to that of the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Richard Younger-Ross), because many issues have not come up in the debate, such as the conduct of auctions, which the Minister brought up himself. Will they also fall within the...

I am very sorry, Mr. Benton. All that I am saying, very clearly, is that if there is evidence of perjury in court, it must go back to the court. It is not my officials or the Government who should make a decision on that, but the courts.

I am very sorry, Mr. Benton. All that I am saying, very clearly, is that if there is evidence of perjury in court, it must go back to the court. It is not my officials or the Government who should make a decision on that, but the courts.