Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that organisations previously funded under the voluntary research, education and treatment system administered by GambleAware will be able to bid for statutory levy funds.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government recognises the important work undertaken by organisations funded under the voluntary research, education and treatment system administered by GambleAware. The introduction of the statutory levy marks a significant further step in tackling gambling harm, providing sustainable and independent funding to deliver interventions that have the greatest impact on reducing harm across Great Britain.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), NHS England and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the appropriate bodies in Scotland and Wales, are the new commissioners for prevention, treatment and research under the statutory levy system. Organisations funded through GambleAware will be permitted to apply for funding under the relevant funding schemes currently being established by the new Commissioners, provided they comply with the stated eligibility requirements. Details regarding UKRI’s funding schemes can be found on their webpage and further detail regarding criteria for funding under the other commissioning bodies will be available in due course.
Commissioners are working to develop a consistent approach to ‘Declarations of Interest’ and the management of potential conflicts of interest, recognising the need for a pragmatic approach during the transition to the new system, whilst mindful of the need to ensure that moving forward, all commissioning activity is independent of industry influence.
Commissioners remain committed to ensuring all stakeholders receive timely updates as they continue to work at pace on their respective gambling harms programmes.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of a) the risks associated with mainstream (i) entertainment brands and (ii) broadcasters distributing gambling (A) advertising and (B) sponsorship and b) the potential impact of this on (1) children and (2) vulnerable audiences.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is clear that wherever gambling advertising appears, it must be socially responsible. There are a number of robust codes in place to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm, enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) independently of Government. The ASA regularly reviews its codes and guidance to ensure they continue to protect children and vulnerable customers in an evolving advertising landscape. For example, the ASA recently strengthened its guidance on strong appeal to children, which focused on social media and the use of influencers.
Government recognises that more needs to be done, and we have now set the gambling industry a clear task to further raise standards to ensure that gambling advertising is appropriate, responsible, and does not exacerbate harm. The Government is committed to using the best available evidence on the impact of advertising from a wide range of sources when determining next steps in this space. We will continue to monitor the evidence base and will work with the Gambling Commission and ASA to ensure our advertising regulation regime is fit for purpose.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Premier League’s Code of Conduct for Gambling Related Agreements in football in reducing gambling-related harm.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
All major sports have now published their gambling sponsorship Codes of Conduct which set minimum standards to ensure arrangements are socially responsible. We are working closely with sports bodies, including the Premier League, to review the implementation and impact of these Codes of Conduct. This review will provide key evidence to inform the most appropriate next steps for gambling sponsorship policy.
The Premier League’s decision to ban front-of-shirt sponsorship by gambling firms will commence after the end of the 2025/26 season and we will also assess the impact of this measure in due course.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Gambling Commission on the potential merits of signposting gambling support services within National Lottery (a) advertising and (b) products.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
Ministers and officials regularly engage with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues related to gambling regulation and player protection. This engagement includes ensuring the National Lottery operates in a socially responsible manner and that appropriate measures are in place to support those who may be experiencing gambling-related harm.
DCMS is also developing a new, evidence-based model for independently developed safer gambling messaging in partnership with the Department for Health and Social Care and Gambling Commission.
Asked by: Chris Evans (Labour (Co-op) - Caerphilly)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment her Department has made of (a) the UK’s international standing on regulation of gambling advertising and (b) what lessons the UK can learn from other countries on this subject.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to utilising the best available evidence to inform its gambling advertising policy. This includes regularly reviewing the impact of gambling advertising regulation in other jurisdictions and how it may or may not be appropriate for the UK, considering our existing regulatory framework and market structure.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of existing rates of gaming duty on the land-based bingo sector in the context of (a) the pandemic and (b) trends in operating costs.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
No formal assessment has been made. Bingo Duty is charged at 10% of a Bingo Hall’s Gross Gaming Yield and is the second lowest rate of the seven gambling duties.
The Government keeps all taxes under review, and the Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances.
Asked by: Charlotte Cane (Liberal Democrat - Ely and East Cambridgeshire)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September to Question 74875 on Horse racing: Gambling, if her Department will publish any assessment they have made to date.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government makes tax policy decisions at fiscal events. If any changes are made to gambling duties at Budget, legislation will be accompanied by a Tax Information and Impact Note which will set out the expected impacts.
Asked by: Dan Norris (Independent - North East Somerset and Hanham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of increasing taxes on the gambling industry on the economy.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government makes tax policy decisions at fiscal events. If any changes are made to gambling duties at Budget, legislation will be accompanied by a Tax Information and Impact Note which will set out the expected impacts.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the Office for Statistics Regulation's review, published on 11 September 2024, of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities's report entitled The economic and social cost of harms associated with gambling in England, published on 11 January 2023 report, whether she has had discussions with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities on the accuracy of its report.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to reviewing all official reports that assess gambling harm and its impact in the United Kingdom when making future policy decisions. This includes the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ (OHID’s) report entitled ‘The economic and social cost of harms associated with gambling in England,’ published on 11 January 2023. Relevant DCMS and OHID officials have met to discuss the report and continue to engage about the evidence OHID provides on gambling harm and its impact.
We are aware that the impacts that can ensue from harmful gambling are diverse and can be difficult to measure. Developing quality evidence is a key priority for the statutory gambling levy, and 20% of funding will be directed towards high-quality, independent research to fill gaps in the evidence base. We will continue to monitor developments in the evidence base and take action where appropriate.
Asked by: Louie French (Conservative - Old Bexley and Sidcup)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the accuracy of the statistical analysis in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities's report entitled The economic and social cost of harms associated with gambling in England, published on 11 January 2023.
Answered by Ian Murray - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to reviewing all official reports that assess gambling harm and its impact in the United Kingdom when making future policy decisions. This includes the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ (OHID’s) report entitled ‘The economic and social cost of harms associated with gambling in England,’ published on 11 January 2023. Relevant DCMS and OHID officials have met to discuss the report and continue to engage about the evidence OHID provides on gambling harm and its impact.
We are aware that the impacts that can ensue from harmful gambling are diverse and can be difficult to measure. Developing quality evidence is a key priority for the statutory gambling levy, and 20% of funding will be directed towards high-quality, independent research to fill gaps in the evidence base. We will continue to monitor developments in the evidence base and take action where appropriate.