Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Paul Flynn Excerpts
Thursday 14th February 2013

(11 years, 3 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Vaizey of Didcot Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr Edward Vaizey)
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We were delighted with the procurement for Devon and Somerset, which is one of the largest programmes under the rural broadband scheme. We hear what my hon. Friend says, and we will do anything we can to help him in any way he wishes.

Paul Flynn Portrait Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab)
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T2. A middle-aged constituent of mine, with no previous history of gambling, lost her family’s life savings after being seduced by clever marketing by a television gambling programme. There is a new pestilence of high-speed, high-stakes gambling that has cost my constituents in Newport West at least £2 million. What are the Government doing to stop it?

Hugh Robertson Portrait Hugh Robertson
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The hon. Gentleman raises concerns that are felt by a number of hon. Members across the House. The Responsible Gambling Trust has primacy in this area and is in the process of conducting the largest piece of academic research ever undertaken. If further action needs to be taken as a consequence—he and many other hon. Members have made this point powerfully—then the Government will take that action.