Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what analysis they have undertaken of gambling addiction; and where any such analysis is published.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The most recent large-scale report into gambling behaviour was published by the Gambling Commission in 2018, using data from the Health Surveys for England and Scotland 2016 and Problem Gambling Survey Wales 2016. This estimated the number of adult problem gamblers in Great Britain as approximately 340,000, 0.7% of the population. The surveys also identified people who are at risk of problems related to their gambling behaviour but who are not classified as problem gamblers. Both headline rates of problem gambling and at-risk rates have been relatively stable for many years.
The government published the Review of Gambling Machines and Social Responsibility Measures in May 2018. This set out action to protect those vulnerable to harm, including cutting the maximum stake on B2 machine from £100 to £2, along with measures to strengthen protections around online gambling and gambling advertising. The Gambling Commission has tightened identity and age verification controls online and introduced tougher sanctions for breaches of advertising codes. A multi-million pound safer gambling advertising campaign, Bet Regret, was launched in February this year, aimed at reducing risky and impulsive gambling.
The Review also set out action on treatment and support for those who experience harm, including initiatives to improve the evidence on treatment needs and effectiveness, expand access to existing services and strengthen the voluntary system for funding support. Following positive engagement with Government, five major operators recently committed to a tenfold increase in their contributions to support, including spending £100m on treatment over the next four years.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce gambling addiction.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
The most recent large-scale report into gambling behaviour was published by the Gambling Commission in 2018, using data from the Health Surveys for England and Scotland 2016 and Problem Gambling Survey Wales 2016. This estimated the number of adult problem gamblers in Great Britain as approximately 340,000, 0.7% of the population. The surveys also identified people who are at risk of problems related to their gambling behaviour but who are not classified as problem gamblers. Both headline rates of problem gambling and at-risk rates have been relatively stable for many years.
The government published the Review of Gambling Machines and Social Responsibility Measures in May 2018. This set out action to protect those vulnerable to harm, including cutting the maximum stake on B2 machine from £100 to £2, along with measures to strengthen protections around online gambling and gambling advertising. The Gambling Commission has tightened identity and age verification controls online and introduced tougher sanctions for breaches of advertising codes. A multi-million pound safer gambling advertising campaign, Bet Regret, was launched in February this year, aimed at reducing risky and impulsive gambling.
The Review also set out action on treatment and support for those who experience harm, including initiatives to improve the evidence on treatment needs and effectiveness, expand access to existing services and strengthen the voluntary system for funding support. Following positive engagement with Government, five major operators recently committed to a tenfold increase in their contributions to support, including spending £100m on treatment over the next four years.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any ministerial directions have been issued since 1 January 2018 in respect of preparing for a no deal Brexit; if so what were those directions; and in each case, who was the minister responsible.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since 1 January 2018, DExEU ministers have issued no ministerial directions in respect of preparing for a no deal Brexit.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for no deal Brexit preparations have been awarded to (1) McKinsey, (2) Boston Consulting Group, (3) Bain and Company, (4) PwC, (5) KPMG, and (6) EY since 1 January 2018; what was the value of each of any such contracts; and which departments have been responsible for issuing any such contracts.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department has not awarded any contracts to the firms in question where the sole purpose of the engagement was no deal planning.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make available to the Intelligence and Security Committee classified information that they may possess relating to any threats to Jamal Khashoggi before his murder in October.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments not to comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to establish an inquiry into reports that the security services possessed intelligence concerning the threat to Jamal Khashoggi before his murder in October.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments not to comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they possessed any intelligence about a threat to Jamal Khashoggi before his murder in October.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments not to comment on intelligence matters.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice was given by the Cabinet Secretary on the appropriateness of 10 Downing Street being used as a venue for a party on the 26 June marking the enactment of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
As has been the case under successive administrations, it is customary for departments to mark the passage of a significant piece of legislation with an occasion within a government building to thank Ministers and officials who worked on the Bill. The Prime Minister did not attend this particular event. Costs of hospitality for the Cabinet Office are published in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts which is available on the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of the Prime Minister’s reception in 10 Downing Street on the 26 June to mark the passage of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
As has been the case under successive administrations, it is customary for departments to mark the passage of a significant piece of legislation with an occasion within a government building to thank Ministers and officials who worked on the Bill. The Prime Minister did not attend this particular event. Costs of hospitality for the Cabinet Office are published in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts which is available on the GOV.UK website.
Asked by: Lord Adonis (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who was (1) invited, and (2) accepted invitations, to the Prime Minister’s reception in 10 Downing Street on 26 June to mark the passage of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
As has been the case under successive administrations, it is customary for departments to mark the passage of a significant piece of legislation with an occasion within a government building to thank Ministers and officials who worked on the Bill. The Prime Minister did not attend this particular event. Costs of hospitality for the Cabinet Office are published in the Cabinet Office annual report and accounts which is available on the GOV.UK website.