Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Gambling Commission to ensure their consultation on remote customer interaction is considered in parallel with the Government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Data released by the Gambling Commission in May 2020 suggested that the scale of the black market had remained low and stable, with little variation in the number of complaints it had received about illegal gambling websites over the previous 12 months. The Commission’s enforcement approach includes working with web hosting companies and search engines to remove sites or prevent them appearing on searches, and working with payment providers to prevent payments to unlicensed operators. It also has powers to prosecute or refer issues to partner agencies such as HMRC where necessary.
The government’s Review of the Gambling Act 2005 has called for evidence on issues around unlicensed gambling, and we are aware of the recent report commissioned by the Betting and Gaming Council. We are also consulting on a proposed uplift to Gambling Commission licence fees, which will strengthen the resources it has to identify the scale of and tackle illegal gambling.
The Gambling Commission requires operators to monitor play and to intervene where players may be at risk of harm. Its consultation and call for evidence on Remote Customer Interaction is considering whether further requirements are needed for how operators identify and interact with customers who may be at risk.
The Commission will be led by the evidence it receives in deciding its next steps, and its findings may also inform its advice to government on the Gambling Act Review. Following a one month extension to allow extra evidence to be submitted, the deadline for submissions is now 9 February.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure a balance between people who enjoy gambling responsibly and protecting the vulnerable against gambling-related harm as part of the gambling review.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The gross gambling yield (GGY) of the gambling industry in Great Britain between April 2019 and March 2020 was £14.2bn (including the National Lottery). The industry contributed £8.3bn to the UK economy in 2019 (including lotteries), accounting for 0.4% of Gross Value Added (GVA), and paid £3bn in duties in 2019/20. It provides funding to sport in the UK via sponsorship, media rights and the horseracing betting levy.
The government launched the Review of the Gambling Act 2005 in December with a Call for Evidence, which runs until 31 March. The Review aims to make sure that the Act is fit for the digital age and that the balance is right between respecting the freedom of adults to choose how they spend their money and leisure time and protecting vulnerable people and communities from harm. More information about the Call for Evidence and how to make a submission is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-gambling-act-2005-terms-of-reference-and-call-for-evidence/review-of-the-gambling-act-2005-terms-of-reference-and-call-for-evidence
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the gambling review is evidence-led.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The gross gambling yield (GGY) of the gambling industry in Great Britain between April 2019 and March 2020 was £14.2bn (including the National Lottery). The industry contributed £8.3bn to the UK economy in 2019 (including lotteries), accounting for 0.4% of Gross Value Added (GVA), and paid £3bn in duties in 2019/20. It provides funding to sport in the UK via sponsorship, media rights and the horseracing betting levy.
The government launched the Review of the Gambling Act 2005 in December with a Call for Evidence, which runs until 31 March. The Review aims to make sure that the Act is fit for the digital age and that the balance is right between respecting the freedom of adults to choose how they spend their money and leisure time and protecting vulnerable people and communities from harm. More information about the Call for Evidence and how to make a submission is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-gambling-act-2005-terms-of-reference-and-call-for-evidence/review-of-the-gambling-act-2005-terms-of-reference-and-call-for-evidence
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate he has made of the financial contribution of the gambling industry to (a) the economy and (b) sport in the UK.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The gross gambling yield (GGY) of the gambling industry in Great Britain between April 2019 and March 2020 was £14.2bn (including the National Lottery). The industry contributed £8.3bn to the UK economy in 2019 (including lotteries), accounting for 0.4% of Gross Value Added (GVA), and paid £3bn in duties in 2019/20. It provides funding to sport in the UK via sponsorship, media rights and the horseracing betting levy.
The government launched the Review of the Gambling Act 2005 in December with a Call for Evidence, which runs until 31 March. The Review aims to make sure that the Act is fit for the digital age and that the balance is right between respecting the freedom of adults to choose how they spend their money and leisure time and protecting vulnerable people and communities from harm. More information about the Call for Evidence and how to make a submission is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-gambling-act-2005-terms-of-reference-and-call-for-evidence/review-of-the-gambling-act-2005-terms-of-reference-and-call-for-evidence
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what strategy his Department has developed to re-open indoor play centres during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
We are in discussions about a timeline for reopening the sector. We have also been working with BALPPA, the trade body that represents the industry. Officials in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport most recently held a meeting with the body on Friday 24 July to discuss the next steps for developing the guidance and reopening the sector.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the proposals in his Department's White Paper, A BBC for the future, published in May 2016, what discussions he has had with the BBC on reducing the level of salary arrangements for managerial and celebrity appointments.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
I have had discussions with the BBC throughout the Charter Review process. Although the level at which the BBC pays its managerial and talent appointments is a matter for the BBC, the Government's White Paper, A BBC for the future: a Broadcaster of Distinction, sets out that the BBC will maintain the current cap on talent spend of a maximum of 16 per cent of internal content costs. As part of their duty to ensure the BBC delivers value for money, the new BBC board will also have a duty to manage talent costs and conduct and report on a rolling programme of talent pay reviews, with independent, expert advice. The new Board's remuneration committee will have to approve salaries above £250K and publish the names of those paid over £450K.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to increase tourism in Yorkshire from (a) domestic and (b) foreign visitors.
Answered by David Evennett
Yorkshire had a record breaking year for inbound tourism in 2014 following the Grand Depart, and there were 1.29 million visits from international tourists to the region in 2015. Domestic overnight trips to Yorkshire were also strong in 2015: £1.92 billion was spent by these tourists in that year - an 11% increase on spending in 2014. Yorkshire also benefited from the £1m staycation campaign run early in 2016 to attract domestic visitors to the area following that winter's floods.
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many gambling licenses were issued for premises in (a) Calderdale and (b) West Yorkshire in each year between 2005 and 2016.
Answered by David Evennett
The requested information is not held centrally. Local authorities are responsible for the issuing of gambling premises licences in accordance with the Licensing Objectives and their own Statement of Licensing Policy. Local Authority license registers listing the number of licences in each borough are available to access by the public. More information from Calderdale Council can be found at http://www.calderdale.gov.uk/business/licences/gambling-act/index.html
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the proposals in his Department's White Paper, A BBC for the future, published in May 2016, what discussions he has had with the BBC on challenging a perceived culture of political bias at the corporation.
Answered by Lord Vaizey of Didcot
I have had discussions with the BBC throughout the Charter Review process. Under the plans in the White Paper, 'A BBC for the future: a broadcaster of distinction', the BBC's obligations for impartiality and accuracy will, for the first time, be regulated by an external body, Ofcom. The culture of the BBC will be a matter for the new unitary board in delivering its new mission 'To act in the public interest, serving all audiences with impartial, high-quality and distinctive media content and services that inform, educate and entertain.'
Asked by: Craig Whittaker (Conservative - Calder Valley)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to work with the Football Association to raise awareness of doping issues at all levels of football.
Answered by David Evennett
The Football Association operates a sport-specific anti-doping education programme for players of all ages. UK Anti-Doping - the relevant Arm's Length Body of DCMS - works closely with the Football Association on this programme.