Offshore Gambling Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:42 pm on 25 January 2013.

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Photo of David Nuttall David Nuttall Conservative, Bury North 12:42, 25 January 2013

As ever, it is a great honour and privilege to follow my hon. Friend James Duddridge. I thank him for a comprehensive speech.

Like my hon. Friend, I have no race course in my constituency—I am not lucky enough to have one. Unlike Paul Farrelly, I am not a member of Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Indeed, it almost feels as though Members have to qualify to take part in this debate, either by having stables in their constituencies or by being members of the Select Committee. However, I have a number of bookmakers operating in my constituency, providing valuable jobs for my constituents. Many of my constituents will be customers of those bookmakers and no doubt many will avail themselves of online gambling facilities—or, as we are referring to them today, remote gambling facilities.

I am not a sponsor of the Bill, but I suspect that many hon. Members—certainly many of my hon. Friends on the Government side of the House—will wish that they had put their names to it because, since it was printed on 25 June last year, no fewer than three of its sponsors have found their way on to the Government Front Bench.