Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility
Maria Caulfield Excerpts(6 years, 7 months ago)
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Tracey Crouch
We have already devolved a number of powers to the Scottish Parliament that it has yet to take up.
Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con)
I congratulate the Minister on her announcement today. Does she not find the hypocrisy of the Opposition astonishing, given that it was the Labour Government who doubled the number of fixed odds betting terminals in shops and tried to withdraw the powers of local councils to stop betting shops being placed on high streets? Is their attitude not extraordinary at this stage?
Tracey Crouch
I will be perfectly honest: I find their attitude disappointing. We have worked on this issue on a cross-party basis for a number of years. I have poured heart and soul into this consultation and feel that we have definitely taken the matter much further forward than ever before. It is this Government who are taking action on an aspect of gambling that brings great concern into our communities and affects individuals, families and society as a whole. It is this Government who are dealing with it.