Clause 24 - Guidance to local authorities
Gambling Bill
5:40 pm
Mr Don Foster (Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, Culture, Media & Sport; Bath, Liberal Democrat)
I have a lengthy briefing, but let me say briefly that the amendments are based on the principle that representative chief constables should always be consulted when the commission issues guidance on the manner in which local authorities should exercise their functions, particularly on the principles to be applied by local authorities when exercising functions under this legislation. As the Bill stands, representative chief constables of police forces are to be consulted only if the commission thinks it appropriate given the nature of the guidance. Bearing it in mind that the key objectives of the Bill all relate to activities about which chief constables are, quite reasonably, likely to have views, we think it vital, notwithstanding the lengthy evidence that I have to back up what I am saying, that the amendments should be accepted.