Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Attorney General

Oral Answers to Questions

Patricia Gibson Excerpts
Thursday 16th March 2017

(7 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Karen Bradley Portrait Karen Bradley
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The hon. Gentleman knows that in a fast-changing and challenging broadcasting environment, the Government want to ensure that Channel 4 has a strong and secure future, and that it can provide for audiences and support creative industries around the UK. I am looking at a broad range of options and, as I have said, I will report in due course.

Patricia Gibson Portrait Patricia Gibson (North Ayrshire and Arran) (SNP)
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15. When she plans to publish the review of stakes and prizes.

Tracey Crouch Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tracey Crouch)
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The Government announced a review of gaming machines and social responsibility measures, which will cover fixed odds betting terminals, on 24 October, and we expect to publish our findings in the spring.

Patricia Gibson Portrait Patricia Gibson
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Will the Minister reassure the House that firm action will be taken against fixed odds betting terminals—the so-called crack cocaine of gambling? In my constituency of North Ayrshire and Arran and the neighbouring one, there are 135 of these machines, on which a vulnerable player can lose £100 in a mere 20 seconds. Will the Government protect the vulnerable by capping the machines’ maximum gambling stake at £2?

Tracey Crouch Portrait Tracey Crouch
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This is all part of the review. The hon. Lady does not have long to wait to find out what we will recommend in that review.