Public Bill Committees

Previously called Standing Committees, Public Bill Commitees study proposed legislation (Bills) in detail, debating each clause and reporting any amendments to the Commons for further debate.

There are at least 16 MPs on a Committee, and the proportion of parties reflects the House of Commons, so the government always has a majority.

  • Gambling Bill

    7th sitting · Tuesday, 30 November 2004 · 1 speech

    [Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair]

    • Clause 34 - Use of premises

      4 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 21, in clause 34, page 15, line 31, after 'who', insert '— (a) are acting in the course of a business, or (b) '. This is a drafting amendment to provide further...

    • Clause 35 - Power to amend section 34

      4 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 155, in clause 35, page 16, line 7, after 'may', insert ', only after consultation with those parties set out in section 22(5) and acting reasonably,'. This is a...

    • Clause 38 - Gambling Software

      8 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 157, in clause 38, page 17, line 32, at end add— '( ) In the application of subsection (3) to Scotland the reference to 51 weeks shall have effect as a reference...

    • Clause 39 - Cheating

      12 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 142, in clause 39, page 17, line 37, at end insert 'or (c) commits directly or indirectly any act which permits or effects advantage or benefits not intended by the...

    • Clause 40 - Chain-gift schemes

      2 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 158, in clause 40, page 18, line 40, at end add— '() In the application of subsection (4) to Scotland the reference to 51 weeks shall have effect as a reference to six...

  • Gambling Bill

    8th sitting · Tuesday, 30 November 2004

    [Mr. Peter Pike in the Chair]

    • Clause 44 - Invitation to enter premises

      3 speeches

      Amendment proposed [this day]: No. 209, in clause 44, page 21, line 5, at end insert ''the premises are a licensed family entertainment centre and''. —[Mr. Moss.] Question again...

    • Clause 45 - Gambling

      3 speeches

      Amendments made: No. 229, in clause 45, page 21, line 15, leave out 'and' and insert 'or'. No. 230, in clause 45, page 21, line 16, leave out 'and' and insert 'or'.—[Mr. Caborn.]

    • Clause 47 - Provision of facilities for gambling

      0 speeches

      Amendments made: No. 231, in clause 47, page 21, line 36, leave out 'and' and insert 'or'. No. 232, in clause 47, page 21, line 37, leave out 'and' and insert 'or'.—[Mr. Caborn.] Clause...

    • Clause 53

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 30, in clause 53, page 23, line 20, at end insert— ', or (c) a lottery which forms part of the National Lottery.'.—[Mr. Caborn.] Clause 53, as amended,...

    • Clause 59 - Penalty

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 159, in clause 59, page 24, line 33, at end add— ''( ) In the application of subsection (1) to Scotland the reference to 51 weeks shall have effect as a reference to...

    • Clause 61 - Nature of licence

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 5, in clause 61, page 25, line 26, leave out third 'A' and insert 'B'. The amendment is very simple. It is one of a string of amendments and its argument is that, as...

    • Clause 65 - Application

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 214, in page 27, line 31, after 'activity', insert 'according to criteria set forth in a statement to be issued by the Secretary of State in relation to the criteria...

    • Clause 69 - Procedure

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 222, in clause 69, page 29, line 36, after 'applications', insert ''which may not be delegated to local authorities,''. This is a probing amendment. Clause 69 refers...

    • Clause 76 - Requirement for personal licence

      4 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 281, in clause 76, page 33, line 20, leave out 'which carries (whether solely or otherwise)' and insert 'the occupier of which is required, by the terms of his...

    • Clause 77 - Credit and inducements

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 196, in page 34, line 15, leave out subsection (3). This is rather more complicated, so I hope that the Committee will bear with me for a few minutes. The clause...

    • Clause 80 - Premises

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 285, in page 35, line 33, after '74)', insert— '(i) requiring that the licensed activities be carried on at a specified place or class of place, (ii) preventing...

    • Clause 81 - Equipment

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 299, in page 36, line 3, at end insert 'save that no such provision may limit the numbers of machines or the player positions on machines— (i)designed or adapted...

    • Clause 83 - Membership

      19 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 329, in clause 83, page 36, line 20, at beginning insert ''Subject to section 85(4),''.

  • Gambling Bill

    9th sitting · Thursday, 2 December 2004 · 1 speech

    [Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair]

    • Clause 85 - Casino operating licence

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 287, in page 37, line 22, leave out subsection (1).—[Mr. Caborn.] Clause 85, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    • Clause 86 - Bingo operating licence

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 236A, in page 38, line 4, at end insert 'or a roll over'. I hope that I am being helpful to the Minister. It appears that the phrase ''or a rollover'' is used in...

    • Clause 93 - Annual fee

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 238A, in clause 93, page 43, line 16, at end insert 'provided that such circumstances are relevant to the activity licensed'.

    • Clause 97 - Application to vary licence

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 240, in clause 97, page 45, line 20, at end insert ', unless the operating licence is transferred pursuant to subsection (7) below'. 

    • Clause 105 - Renewal of licence

      9 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 242, in clause 105, page 49, line 9, at end add— '(9) The Commission shall make a statement regarding the circumstances under which failure to act within the...

    • Clause 107 - Lapse

      20 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 243, in clause 107, page 49, line 20, at end insert 'provided that the provisions of section 181 shall apply where the licensee dies,'. We all accept that mother...

    • Clause 112 - Revocation

      8 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 246, in clause 112, page 52, line 10, at end add— '(5) A licence holder shall at its option be entitled to an oral hearing before the Commission should the...

    • Clause 114 - Financial penalty

      8 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 247, in page 53, line 21, after 'statement', insert ', following consultation with those parties set out in section 23(10),'.

    • Schedule 6 - Relevant Offences

      0 speeches

      Amendments made: No. 167, in page 159, line 24, at end insert— 'An offence under section 58(1) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (convicted thief in possession).'. No. 168, in...

    • Clause 120 - Nature of personal licence

      7 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 293, in page 56, line 9, leave out 'a specified function' and insert 'the functions of a specified management office, or to perform a specified operational function,'.

    • Clause 121 - Application of provisions of Part 5

      6 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 295, in clause 121, page 56, line 13, after '5', insert— '(other than section 61(2), (4) and (5))'. This is purely a drafting amendment to clarify the effect of...

    • Clause 122 - Exemption for small-scale operators

      21 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 252, in clause 122, page 56, line 30, leave out from 'shall' to end of line 35 and insert 'mean an operator not employing more than ten full time permanent employees...

    • Clause 124 - Duration

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 256, in clause 124, page 57, line 20, at end add 'provided that there shall be no requirement that additional training or qualifications be undertaken or acquired in...

    • Clause 125 - Fees

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 257, in clause 125, page 57, line 28, after 'licence', insert '(but may not be determined by local authorities or dependent upon the location of such licence holder)'.

  • Gambling Bill

    10th sitting · Thursday, 2 December 2004

    [Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair]

    • Clause 126 - Multiple licences

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 259, in clause 126, page 57, line 37, at end add— '(3) The provisions of this section shall not prevent the reissuing of a personal licence which authorises the...

    • Clause 129 - Disqualification

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 261, in clause 129, page 58, line 26, at end add— '(4) Disqualification may be in respect of the carrying out of a specified function under the personal licence...

    • Clause 130 - Notification of operating licensee

      4 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 296, in clause 130, page 58, line 28, at end insert '(za) suspends a personal licence under section 111 (as applied by section 121),'. Clause 130 specifies that if...

    • Schedule 7 - Gambling appeals tribunal

      3 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 332, in schedule 7, page 162, line 2, at end insert ', and in the event of a tie, the president shall have the casting vote'. This is a simple amendment. We...

    • Clause 134 - Appeal to tribunal

      8 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 263, in clause 134, page 60, line 6, after 'section', insert '71, 72 or'. The clause allows for an appeal only to an imposition of an individual condition under clause...

    • Clause 137 - Powers of Tribunal

      10 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 265, in clause 137, page 61, line 17, at end insert 'including reference to what will constitute reasonable belief for the purposes of section 60 and other defences...

    • Clause 139 - Rules

      8 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 267, in clause 139, page 61, line 40, leave out subsection (3). Subsection (3) deals with rules providing for certain situations. It allows a summary conviction to be...

    • Clause 143 - Form of licence

      7 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 226A, in clause 143, page 63, line 36, at end add 'and  (i) specify an area (being all or part of the casino premises) for the purposes of section 158(4) in...

    • Principles to be applied

      10 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 359, in clause 145, page 64, line 38, leave out 'not'. Lest the Minister draws my attention to clause 68 and the fact that we have already agreed to it and its making...

    • Clause 148 - Responsible authorities

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 160, in clause 148, page 66, line 23, after 'authority', insert 'in England and Wales'.—[Mr. Caborn.] Clause 148, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    • Clause 149 - Interested party

      8 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 330, in page 67, line 19, at end add ', or (d) has concern about or responsibility for addressing social wellbeing in the wider local or regional community from which...

    • Clause 158 - Mandatory conditions

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 345, in clause 158, page 71, line 21, at end insert— '(1A) Regulations under this section shall include a prohibition on any authority which issues a premises...

    • Clause 163 - Gaming machines

      23 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 343, in page 73, line 8, at end insert 'and (c) not more than 10 per cent. of the number of actual machines sited, or not more than 1,250 machines, shall be Category...

    • Clause 164 - Virtual gaming

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 336, in clause 164, page 74, line 20, at end add— '(3) A bingo premises licence shall by virtue of this section authorise the holder to make facilities...

    • Clause 165 - Casino premises licence

      1 speech

      I beg to move amendment No. 237, in clause 165, page 74, line 37, at end insert '(6) Regulations under section 158 or 159 may, in particular, make provision in relation to casino premises...

    • Clause 166 - Door supervision

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 337, in clause 166, page 75, line 13, at end add '(5) This section shall not apply in relation to a bingo club premises licence.'. The amendment replicates the...

    • Clause 176 - Copy of licence

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 161, in clause 176, page 80, line 36, at end add— '( ) In subsection (2), ''prescribed'' means— (b) in relation to applications to authorities in Scotland,...

    • Clause 183 - Application for review

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 162, in clause 183, page 84, line 6, at end add— '( ) In relation to applications to authorities in Scotland, subsections (3) and (4) shall have effect as if the...

    • Clause 194 - Stay pending appeal

      2 speeches

      Amendment proposed: No. 340, in clause 194, page 89, line 6, at end insert— ', including an order that subsection (1) shall apply.'. —[Mr. Moss]

    • Clause 197 - Stay pending appeal

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 164, in clause 197, page 90, line 29, at end add— '( ) This section does not apply to Scotland.'. —[Mr. Caborn.] Clause 197, as amended, ordered to stand part of...

    • Clause 198 - Interpretation

      1 speech

      Amendment made: No. 165, in clause 198, page 90, line 45, leave out 'and 170' and insert ', 170 and 176'.—[Mr. Caborn.] Clause 198, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses...

  • Gambling Bill

    11th sitting · Tuesday, 7 December 2004 · 7 speeches

    [Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair]

    • Clause 220 - Gaming machines: Categories A to D

      62 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 276, in clause 220, page 101, line 45, after 'sub-categories', insert 'including a sub-category dealing with linked machines (as defined in section 228) to be known as...

  • Gambling Bill

    12th sitting · Tuesday, 7 December 2004

    [Mr. Peter Pike in the Chair]

    • Clause 228 - Linked machines

      6 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 278, in clause 228, page 104, leave out line 12 and insert 'in the same designated gaming area'.

  • Gambling Bill

    13th sitting · Thursday, 9 December 2004

    [Mr. Peter Pike in the Chair]

    • Schedule 9 - Exempt lotteries

      35 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 319, in schedule 9, page 169, line 24, at end insert— '(4A) The prescribed sum referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4 shall be determined only after consultation with...

  • Gambling Bill

    14th sitting · Thursday, 9 December 2004

    [Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair]

    • Clause 249 - Exclusion of the National Lottery

      4 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 31, in clause 249, page 110, line 36, leave out 'a lottery which forms part of'.—[Mr. Caborn.] Question proposed, That the clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

    • Clause 251 - Members' club

      4 speeches

      I, too, welcome you to this afternoon's deliberations, Mr. Gale. This is not a lengthy point, but it is important. Earlier this week we discussed under clause 219 the fact that gaming machines...

    • Clause 255 - Section 254: supplementary

      10 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 348, in clause 255, page 113, line 31, at end insert— '(e) not unfairly discriminate between different classes of club or institute when making such...

    • Clause 258 - Club machine permit

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 350, in clause 258, page 115, line 44, at end add— '(6) for the purposes of this section ''available for use'' shall mean a machine which is in fully functional...

    • Clause 260 - Bingo

      53 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 351, in clause 260, page 116, line 10, leave out '£1,000' and insert '£2,000'.

  • Gambling Bill

    15th sitting · Tuesday, 14 December 2004 · 2 speeches

    [Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair]

    • Clause 264 - Exempt gaming

      5 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 208, in clause 264, page 117, line 30, leave out from 'that' to end of line 31 and insert 'no child or young person uses a Category C gaming machine on the premises'....

    • Clause 267 - Gaming machines

      63 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 369, in clause 267, page 118, line 30, leave out 'one or two' and insert 'four'.  

  • Gambling Bill

    16th sitting · Tuesday, 14 December 2004

    [Mr. Peter Pike in the Chair]

    • Clause 267 - Gaming machines

      40 speeches

      Amendment proposed [this day]: No. 369, in clause 267, page 118, line 30, leave out 'one or two' and insert 'four'.—[Mr. Moss.] Question again proposed, That the amendment be made.

    • Schedule 11 - Prize Gaming Permits

      25 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 178, in schedule 11, page 188, line 29, at end insert 'except that in paragraphs 5 and 20(2) it means, where the application in question is made to a licensing authority in...

    • Clause 307 - Regulations

      22 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 390, in clause 307, page 133, line 29, at beginning insert 'Subject to section 23'.

  • Gambling Bill

    17th sitting · Thursday, 16 December 2004

    [Mr. Peter Pike in the Chair]

    • Clause 308 - Broadcasting

      11 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 398, in clause 308, page 134, line 15, leave out 'that section' and insert 'section 319 of the Communications Act 2003 (c. 21)'. Welcome back to the Chair, Mr. Pike....

    • Clause 310 - Foreign gambling

      7 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 416, in clause 310, page 135, line 21, at beginning insert 'Subject to subsection (2A),'.

  • Gambling Bill

    18th sitting · Thursday, 16 December 2004 · 127 speeches

    [Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair]

    • Clause 318 - Prize competitions

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 23, in clause 318, page 140, line 11, leave out 'entering' and insert 'participating in'.—[Mr. Caborn.] Clause 318, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill....

    • Clause 327 - Three-year licensing policy

      6 speeches

      I beg to move amendment No. 383, in clause 327, page 143, line 33, at end insert— '(d) ensure that its licensing policy and other decisions comply with the licensing objectives and guidance...

  • Gambling Bill

    19th sitting · Tuesday, 11 January 2005 · 1 speech

    [Mr. Peter Pike in the Chair]

    • Clause 330 - Interpretation

      7 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 238, in clause 330, page 146, line 11, at end insert— '''non-commercial betting'' has the meaning given by section [Non-commercial betting],'.—[Mr. Caborn.]

    • Clause 333 - Amendments and repeals

      0 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 32, in clause 333, page 150, line 4, at end insert '(subject to the Note to that Schedule).'.—[Mr. Caborn] Clause 333, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    • Schedule 14 - Repeals

      0 speeches

      Amendments made: No. 415, in schedule 14, page 199, line 6, at end insert— 'Metropolitan Police Act 1839 (c.47) The words '', or knowingly suffer any unlawful games or any gaming...

    • Schedule 15 - Transitional

      1 speech

      I beg to move amendment No. 418, in schedule 15, page 202, line 1, after 'use', insert ', or could lawfully be used,'. This drafting amendment is relevant to our new casino policy, which we will...

    • Clause 336 - Extent

      8 speeches

      Amendment made: No. 410, in clause 336, page 150, line 33, after '40,', insert — '( ) section 310,'.—[Mr. Caborn.] Question proposed, That the clause, as amended, stand part of the...

    • New Clause 2 - Prosecution: time limit

      1 speech

      '(1) A magistrates' court may try an information for an offence under this Act provided that the information was laid within the period of twelve months beginning with the date (or last date) on...

    • New Clause 3 - NATIONAL LOTTERY

      0 speeches

      '(1) Entering the National Lottery is not gambling for the purposes of this Act (despite section 3(c) but subject to subsections (2) to (4) below). (2) Entering the National Lottery is gambling...

    • New Clause 6 - Non-commercial betting

      0 speeches

      'For the purposes of this Act a betting transaction is non-commercial betting if no party to the transaction— (a) enters it in the course of a business, or (b) holds himself out as being...

    • New Clause 17 - Pub gaming machine permits

      0 speeches

      '(1) A person does not commit an offence under section 34 or 226 if he makes a gaming machine of Category C or D available in accordance with a pub gaming machine permit. (2) A pub gaming...

    • New Clause 18 - Removal of exemption

      0 speeches

      '(1) A licensing authority may make an order disapplying section 264 or section [Gaming machines: automatic entitlement](1) to specified premises. (2) Before making an order under subsection...

  • Gambling Bill

    20th sitting · Tuesday, 11 January 2005 · 1 speech

    [Mr. Roger Gale in the Chair]

    • New clause 20

      96 speeches

      Premises licences: specific cases: casino premises licence: overall limits '(1) No more than eight casino premises licences may have effect at any time in respect of regional casinos. (2) No...

    • New Clause 13 - Conversion of Existing Permits

      3 speeches

      '(1) Within the period of 6 months beginning with a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State, any person or persons in possession of a premises licence granted under the Licensing Act 2003...

    • New Schedule 2 - Pub Gaming Machine Permits

      0 speeches

      Making of application 1 (1) A person who applies to a licensing authority for an on-premises alcohol licence or who holds an on-premises alcohol licence issued by a licensing authority may...

All bills in this session

Committee membership and attendance (out of 14)

Chairpersons

  • Roger Gale (1)
  • Mr Peter Pike (1)

Members

  • Lord Stratford (1)
  • Richard Caborn (2)
  • Ben Chapman (2)
  • Clive Efford (2)
  • Lord Foster of Bath (2)
  • Mr Nick Hawkins (2)
  • Joan Humble (2)
  • Eric Illsley (2)
  • Julie Kirkbride (2)
  • Malcolm Moss (2)
  • Mr Richard Page (2)
  • Bob Russell (2)
  • Shaun Woodward (1)
  • Jon Cruddas (2)
  • Kevan Jones (2)
  • Ann McKechin (2)
  • Mark Prisk (2)
  • John Pugh (2)
  • Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (2)
  • Liam Byrne (2)
  • Iain Wright (2)

[ Committee memberships can change partway through ]