Mr Denis Howell: rose—
Mr Denis Howell: I am sorry.
Mr Denis Howell: No.
Mr Denis Howell: The hon. Gentleman has been following sport with me for many years and I have never seen him make such an agitated speech. Whether I am here is immaterial. The Labour party in successive manifestos has made it plain not only that it will support angling but that it will take positive steps to clean up waters and give anglers much greater access to the countryside than they have been given by...
Mr Denis Howell: I thank the Minister for making that clear. So far as we are concerned, the statement that he has just made is very profound. The situation has not previously been made clear in the Birmingham region. What I have just heard changes the whole complexion of the situation. It is now clear that our campaign will have to be directed at the regional authority rather than at the Minister or the...
Mr Denis Howell: I accept that and I understand the importance of the population formula. The Minister will understand that there is a small reduction in population and that the failure of some to register because of the poll tax may be a significant factor.
Mr Denis Howell: I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise with the Under-Secretary of State for Health the formula for the allocation of funds to hospitals and area health authorities in places of great deprivation. [Interruption.] I do not know what the little conversation on the Government Front Bench is about, but as this is likely to be the last time that I shall speak in an Adjournment debate I...
Mr Denis Howell: I do not think that the hon. Gentleman would do so if he came to have a look at it. I cannot see any of these unfortunate mothers who are losing their babies at such a rate endorsing the Conservative party in view of that factor. The reason why the Minister made this extraordinary statement has become apparent to me—it is called development addition. That factor has appeared in the figures...
Mr Denis Howell: On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. This debate is about a guillotine. It has nothing to do with the various aspects of the Bill. I hope that you will rule accordingly.
Mr Denis Howell: Will the hon. and learned Gentleman give way?
Mr Denis Howell: I need to deal with the regrettable interference of my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), and the suggestion that he made. I must declare that I am a director—unpaid, as we all are—of the National Lottery Promotion Company. In view of the suggestions that have been made, I wish to tell my hon. Friend that no director has received a penny from our activities, nor intends to...
Mr Denis Howell: I have already declared an interest that I have had for many years. It is the reason why I support the Bill, which I do not believe will go far in this Parliament. The vote, therefore, is not highly relevant, but the Bill offers an important opportunity for hon. Members to express their views. The Rothschild committee on gambling was set up by the previous Labour Government, with whom I was...
Mr Denis Howell: Not at all, but there is a much better chance of getting £1 billion out of the £3 billion—or thereabouts—that is to be spent to help along the way. I agree that the task is gigantic, so let us start. The first step is very important. I am sympathetic to local charities, as we all are. I am a member of two charities—Warwickshire cricket club and the Labour party—and I give to them...
Mr Denis Howell: My hon. Friend has only just arrived, but if he reads Hansard, he will see that I have dealt with that issue. I shall move on to the main argument, which involves Europe. The Minister said previously that European lotteries cannot operate in this country. Gambling is the twelfth largest industry in Europe and, given the terms of the European Community, it is inconceivable that when the...
Mr Denis Howell: Before the Minister discusses the foundation, will he confide to the House why the grant aid increase for sport differed so dramatically from the grant aid increase for the arts?
Mr Denis Howell: No, but I am well aware that when the scheme was announced the Minister said that it would be funded with new money and should not be regarded as coming within the Sports Council's estimate. The Minister has departed from that and is now telling us that he is no good at fighting the battle for sport with the Treasury and that his colleague, the Minister for the Arts, is about 10 times more...
Mr Denis Howell: I share the concern. The Minister made it clear that the reversal was decided by Cleveland school sport council and not the local authority. As he has said, it was not the responsibility of the local authority but that of the local sports council.
Mr Denis Howell: rose—
Mr Denis Howell: The Minister should withdraw that. Is he saying that every time a local authority or the Government fund a voluntary body they are responsible for the policies of that body? That is ridiculous.
Mr Denis Howell: indicated dissent.
