Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of fixed-odds betting terminals on gambling addiction rates in Liverpool Walton constituency.

Neither the Department, nor the Gambling Commission, hold information on participation rates on fixed-odds betting terminals or the effect on gambling addiction rates in individual constituencies.

On 31 October the government published proposals for changes on gaming machines and social responsibility measures. We were clear that we see a case for action on fixed-odds betting terminals, and the consultation outlined a range of options including cutting the maximum stake from £100 to between £50 and £2. The consultation closed on 23 January and the Government will publish its response in due course.