Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 6 January 2010, Official Report, column 391W, on the Gambling Act 2005, if he will assess the merits of bringing forward proposals on the availability of higher prizes on gaming machines in commercial snooker and pool clubs for consideration separate from his Department's planned review of category B gaming...
Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps he plans to take under the provisions of the Gambling Act 2005 to allow commercial snooker and pool clubs to offer higher prizes on licensed gaming machines on their premises; what timetable he has set for such action; and if he will make a statement.
Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many betting shops in each region have been visited as part of the Gambling Commission Annual Visit Programme since September 2007; how many such shops in each region were found to be at risk of non-compliance with each of the Gambling Commission's three licensing objectives; what enforcement action has been taken; and if he will...
Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what meetings the Gambling Commission has held with (a) Gala Coral, (b) William Hill and (c) Ladbrokes or their representatives on betting shops in the last 12 months; what matters were discussed; what the outcomes were of the discussions; and if he will make a statement.
Ian McCartney: ...as a politician, I am not much of a gambler myself. The industry employs tens of thousands of people in this country, and is well regulated. I recognise, however, that some individuals have gambling problems, and that the consequences for them and their families are indeed great. We will certainly keep a close eye on the industry, as the hon. Gentleman requests, to ensure that it not only...
Ian McCartney: ...payments between each individual of the couple if the claimant mismanages the benefit. That is to protect the best interests of the family, and it generally occurs if the claimant has an alcohol or gambling addiction. The number of such cases is small. Investigations in one office revealed only three split-payment cases out of a case load of about 45,000. The reason for the split...
Ian McCartney: ...those commitments, we shall have to divide the House and, by campaigning, make people aware of the fact that, despite Maxwell and the Select Committee's report, the Government are still prepared to gamble with the assets of public-sector pensioners.
Ian McCartney: ...may reply by saying that the Home Office is satisfied with self-regulation. My experience as a Member of Parliament who has been involved with groups of children addicted to amusement arcade gambling is that self-regulation does not work. Few amusement arcade owners do anything practical to prevent children under 16 from using their premises. Indeed, were it not for the under-16s using...
Ian McCartney: ...Some take part in criminal activities; some steal from their parents; some leave school at lunchtime to go to an amusement arcade and use the money that they have been given for food to feed their gambling habits. Many of the problems that relate to children being out of school can be traced back to local amusement arcades. If we are serious about dealing with this social problem,...
Ian McCartney: ...their ability to improve their working environment so as to protect themselves and take away from them basic opportunities to defend themselves against unscrupulous employers who are prepared to gamble with workers' lives. When workers complain, they are sacked—booted out of the factory—and are now standing on the picket line trying to draw public attention to what is going on. Again,...