Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the Gambling Act 2005 and on-course bookmakers.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on the Gambling Act 2005 and on-course bookmakers.

As hon. Members will know, the hon. Gentleman and I jointly chair the all-party group on racing. An issue that occurred to me while listening to the exchanges of hon. Members is that, when the measure was drafted, it was envisaged that the horserace betting levy would be abolished and...

As hon. Members will know, the hon. Gentleman and I jointly chair the all-party group on racing. An issue that occurred to me while listening to the exchanges of hon. Members is that, when the measure was drafted, it was envisaged that the horserace betting levy would be abolished and...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments, with which I totally agree—to some extent he has read my thoughts. If I may, I will continue to read from the letter:"““The levy board has now been reprieved but is reluctant to continue with it’s ‘certificate of approval’ role, and, as...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments, with which I totally agree—to some extent he has read my thoughts. If I may, I will continue to read from the letter:"““The levy board has now been reprieved but is reluctant to continue with it’s ‘certificate of approval’ role, and, as...

I remember the Minister taking the Consumer Credit Bill through Parliament. He was keen to make the same point then: it is always best if the industry can manage its own affairs well. However, he always said that it was necessary for Government to reserve the right to legislate if...

I remember the Minister taking the Consumer Credit Bill through Parliament. He was keen to make the same point then: it is always best if the industry can manage its own affairs well. However, he always said that it was necessary for Government to reserve the right to legislate if...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention—so quickly something rises and then is shot down. The spirit of what my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) is trying to achieve is the feel that I get from the tenure of the debate....

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention—so quickly something rises and then is shot down. The spirit of what my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) is trying to achieve is the feel that I get from the tenure of the debate....

I enter this debate as a complete ingénu. I know absolutely nothing about racing. I have never been to a race course and have never placed a bet. I recognise that my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) knows a great deal more about this...

I enter this debate as a complete ingénu. I know absolutely nothing about racing. I have never been to a race course and have never placed a bet. I recognise that my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) knows a great deal more about this...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on securing the debate. It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), because my knowledge of this issue is probably inferior even to his own. I am not a gambler and have...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on securing the debate. It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), because my knowledge of this issue is probably inferior even to his own. I am not a gambler and have...

I did not intend to speak today, but I want to make two points. Before doing so, I congratulate the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on obtaining the debate and the Minister, who is an old football partner of mine, on his new position. I feel a lot more...

I did not intend to speak today, but I want to make two points. Before doing so, I congratulate the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on obtaining the debate and the Minister, who is an old football partner of mine, on his new position. I feel a lot more...

My hon. Friend should not read too much into my intervention: it was to help me to understand the argument that my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Ms Barlow) was making.

My hon. Friend should not read too much into my intervention: it was to help me to understand the argument that my hon. Friend the Member for Hove (Ms Barlow) was making.

I am grateful to the Minister for that intervention, because it seems to me that it was entirely reasonable of people to enter into that expectation. The previous system was hereditary, so one could only assume that any subsequent system was likely to be for more than just a few...

I am grateful to the Minister for that intervention, because it seems to me that it was entirely reasonable of people to enter into that expectation. The previous system was hereditary, so one could only assume that any subsequent system was likely to be for more than just a few...

I welcome the Minister to his new post and I am sure that we all look forward to his response. So far, the debate has been very one-sided, and I will stay on the same side as everyone else. I congratulate the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on introducing...

I welcome the Minister to his new post and I am sure that we all look forward to his response. So far, the debate has been very one-sided, and I will stay on the same side as everyone else. I congratulate the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on introducing...

I, too, extend my congratulations to the Minister, and it will be a pleasure to face him on occasions such as this. Like the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), I do not have huge experience of race courses or betting, but the hon. Members for Hove (Ms Barlow) and...

I, too, extend my congratulations to the Minister, and it will be a pleasure to face him on occasions such as this. Like the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant), I do not have huge experience of race courses or betting, but the hon. Members for Hove (Ms Barlow) and...

Thank you, Mr. Conway; I welcome you to the proceedings this morning. I thank right hon. and hon. Members of all parties for their words of welcome to me in my new ministerial role, and I am delighted that my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) was able...

Thank you, Mr. Conway; I welcome you to the proceedings this morning. I thank right hon. and hon. Members of all parties for their words of welcome to me in my new ministerial role, and I am delighted that my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) was able...

When my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough suggested an extension of two years to 2014, I magically carried out a survey among pitch bookmakers and they unanimously rejected the proposal.

When my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough suggested an extension of two years to 2014, I magically carried out a survey among pitch bookmakers and they unanimously rejected the proposal.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. He is right that that was the style of operation in that regard. The complexity in this case involves the change from the certificates to the licensing regime that we put in place, and it would make legislation more difficult....

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. He is right that that was the style of operation in that regard. The complexity in this case involves the change from the certificates to the licensing regime that we put in place, and it would make legislation more difficult....

I am sorry to interrupt my hon. Friend’s speech, but this is a crucial point. What is the evidence that the NJPC told people that their pitches were for life?

I am sorry to interrupt my hon. Friend’s speech, but this is a crucial point. What is the evidence that the NJPC told people that their pitches were for life?

Thank you for allowing us to have this debate, Mr. Conway. First, I congratulate my hon. Friend the Minister on his new ministerial role and thank him for taking time out to come to the Chamber this morning. People might ask why we are having this debate, because bookies do...

Thank you for allowing us to have this debate, Mr. Conway. First, I congratulate my hon. Friend the Minister on his new ministerial role and thank him for taking time out to come to the Chamber this morning. People might ask why we are having this debate, because bookies do...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on securing this important debate and the Minister on his appointment. I thank him for giving his time to an issue that affects the livelihoods of so many. I wish to join my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston (Mr. Devine) on securing this important debate and the Minister on his appointment. I thank him for giving his time to an issue that affects the livelihoods of so many. I wish to join my hon. Friend the Member for Livingston...