Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Nick Boles and Mary Glindon

Monday 20th January 2014 Commons Chamber

[Nick Boles]

I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. I find myself in the curious position of having to hail the work of the London borough of Southwark and of the London borough of Barking and Dagenham in using article 4 powers in exactly the way the Government intended. I can only hope that the London borough of Enfield will follow my hon. Friend’s advice and do the same.

[Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab)]

A friend and constituent of mine, despite being self-excluded from his local Ladbrokes, recently walked into that shop and using his partner’s debit card promptly lost £2,000 on a fixed odds gaming machine. How can the Minister justify, to people like my friend, his policies, which are making it easier for more betting shops to open and harder for gamblers to fight their addiction?

[Nick Boles]

This Government share the concerns the hon. Lady has expressed about the way in which some people can fall prey to these machines. The Government and the Prime Minister made clear that we will look at the evidence, that we are conducting a review with the Responsible Gambling Trust and that we will then come forward with proposals, but I hope she will admit that it was the Government she supported who brought in the relaxation in the first place.