Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

John Leech Excerpts
Thursday 22nd January 2015

(9 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Hague of Richmond Portrait Mr Hague
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It is right in principle that, where overpayments of benefits have occurred, it is the policy to recover them to prevent loss to the public purse. I am not able to comment immediately on that individual case, which does seem to be complicated by the issue that my hon. Friend raises. But I will ask my ministerial colleagues to write to him in response to the concerns that he has raised.

John Leech Portrait Mr John Leech (Manchester, Withington) (LD)
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Given that Responsible Gambling Trust research into fixed- odds betting terminals showed that four out of five gamblers staking the average £13 spin exhibited problem gambling characteristics, can we have a debate on the Floor of the House to discuss whether the Government’s proposals will have any impact whatever?

Lord Hague of Richmond Portrait Mr Hague
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Again, that is an important matter. There will be other Members concerned about that as well. I cannot offer a debate in Government time between now and the Dissolution of Parliament, but, as I have said to one or two other Members, my hon. Friend may wish to pursue the matter through an Adjournment debate or a Back-Bench business debate as well as having raised it here today.