Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Selaine Saxby and Lucy Frazer

Thursday 22nd February 2024 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right that the BBC plays a critical role. It is extremely trusted not only here but across the world. The BBC is an important institution, which is why it is so important that it remains impartial. I know that the director-general agrees and, like me, thinks there is more to do. That is why, in the mid-term review, we set out things that the BBC continues to need to look at. The BBC agrees with our mid-term review and has accepted all our recommendations.

[Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con)]

2. What progress her Department has made on introducing a national registration system for short-term lets.

Gambling Act Review White Paper

Debate between Selaine Saxby and Lucy Frazer

Thursday 27th April 2023 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

The right hon. Member makes an important point. People have said to me, “If you tighten up the rules in relation to legitimate gambling, all you will do is drive punters offshore.” In this White Paper we are stopping punters going to the black market, because we are strengthening the powers and resources of the Gambling Commission and local authorities. The regulator will now be able to block or take down black market operators and, where necessary, suspend or take away licences from companies that break the rules.

[Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con)]

My question is very much in the same vein. I welcome so much of today’s announcement, and the Secretary of State is quite right that it is with the advent of smartphones that we have seen such a change in gambling behaviour. Some people might choose not to pursue a legitimate operator because they do not want to go through the affordability checks or other elements of the new regime. If that is the case, they can just use Google to find many more options, so will more be done really to clamp down on the black market, particularly when it is so accessible through hand-held devices?

[Lucy Frazer]

Yes; I can confirm that the regulator will be able to block or take down black market operators or, where necessary, suspend the licences of companies that break the rules.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Selaine Saxby and Lucy Frazer

Tuesday 25th February 2020 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

Yes, I do. There is support available through the tremendous amount of work that charities do in this sector, but people cannot access that support if we do not identify them as veterans in the first place. We have changed our systems during the screening process to actively ask those entering custody about previous service in the armed forces. That is recorded on the basic custody screening tool but, of course, the more we record, the more we can do.

[Selaine Saxby (North Devon) (Con)]

15. What steps his Department is taking to support victims of (a) rape and (b) sexual abuse through the criminal justice system.