Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 11:30 am on 13 February 2013.
Michael Connarty
Labour, Linlithgow and East Falkirk
11:30,
13 February 2013
What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Ministers in the Scottish Government on the level of gambling machine usage in Scotland.
David Mundell
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and with Scottish Ministers on a range of issues.
Michael Connarty
Labour, Linlithgow and East Falkirk
I am not sure whether to thank the Minister for that very unhelpful answer. Fixed-odds gambling terminals—[Interruption.]
John Bercow
Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
Order. We will just have to extend the session. There is a point to having some courtesy towards the Member who is asking the question. I am sure that is something that Members learned at school.
Michael Connarty
Labour, Linlithgow and East Falkirk
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I will take cheers from anywhere.
Fixed-odds gambling terminals have sucked up £122 million in profits in the betting shops in Scotland. They are called the crack cocaine of the gambling industry. Is it not time for the Secretary of State to join me in lobbying to have the gambling prevalence survey reinstated, considering how much addictive gambling there is in Scotland and other parts of the UK?
David Mundell
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland
I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman on the reintroduction of the prevalence survey, but I commend the Daily Record and the hon. Gentleman for highlighting issues relating to problem gambling. He may be aware that the Government are currently conducting a consultation on the links between problem gambling and B2 machines. I urge him,
Daily Record readers and everyone with an interest in this matter to contribute to that consultation.
