Clause 4 - Remote gambling
Gambling Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Don Foster (Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Culture, Media & Sport; Bath, Liberal Democrat)
I apologise for interrupting the Minister, but I am increasingly confused by his responses. For example, let us consider the TV programme ''Have a go'', which is an interactive television gambling station that makes a great deal of money on a small audience. Clearly Ofcom will have a role in deciding whether ''Have a go'' should be granted access to the airways. There is an issue that the right hon. Gentleman raises with that one example.
Life could get complicated. If I were being facetious I could ask whether it would be necessary for the producers of ''Who wants to be a millionaire?'' to have a remote gambling licence when a contestant phones a friend. There is both an element of chance and an element of skill in attempting to obtain a prize. There are issues in which Ofcom will be involved. But that does not alter the points that are in the Bill. The Minister would do well merely to acknowledge that there is a role for Ofcom, without saying that it is necessary to include it in these clauses.