Tag: Carolyn Harris

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-12-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the causes of recent trends in the number of police call outs to bookmakers.

Mike Penning

The Home Office does not collect information centrally on the locations to which police officers are called out and has made no assessment of recent trends in the number of call outs to bookmakers.

It is for Police and Crime Commissioners to decide police priorities at a local level, and for Chief Constables to determine the most appropriate response in their areas.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representative bodies (a) his Department and (b) the Gambling Commission has met to discuss the next review of gaming machines stakes and prizes.

David Evennett

My officials and staff in the Gambling Commission meet a range of stakeholders and representative bodies at regular intervals to discuss gambling policy and regulation. Information on Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are included in the quarterly transparency returns.

The Government published its evaluation of the £50 regulations introduced in April 2015 on 21 January. The evaluation paper can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-gaming-machine-circumstances-of-useamendment-regulations-2015

We will now consider the findings of the evaluation before deciding if there is a need for further action.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress his Department has made on the Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes.

Tracey Crouch

As previously stated in the House of Commons, Government is reviewing the situation and I hope to announce details of a review in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to assist bookmakers in reducing (a) crime on their premises and (b) the incidence of malicious damage to fixed odds betting terminals.

Tracey Crouch

With support from Government, and by working directly with police forces across the UK, the gambling industry is committed to tackling and reducing crime and bringing those who commit crimes against shop staff, customers and property to justice.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to launch the next triennial review of gaming machine stake and prize limits.

David Evennett

My officials and staff in the Gambling Commission meet a range of stakeholders and representative bodies at regular intervals to discuss gambling policy and regulation. Information on Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are included in the quarterly transparency returns.

The Government published its evaluation of the £50 regulations introduced in April 2015 on 21 January. The evaluation paper can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-gaming-machine-circumstances-of-useamendment-regulations-2015

We will now consider the findings of the evaluation before deciding if there is a need for further action.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the next Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes will address all such stakes and prizes.

Tracey Crouch

As previously stated in the House of Commons, Government is reviewing the situation and I hope to announce details of a review in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of whether the Code of Conduct for bookmakers is meeting the aims for which it was drawn up.

Tracey Crouch

All betting shop operators are required by the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Code of Practice to have social responsibility policies and processes in place. In addition, the industry trade body the Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) has a mandatory code of conduct in place, which is reviewed regularly to evaluate its effectiveness.

I have explained to the industry that I expect them to demonstrate that they are improving existing player protection initiatives and evaluating the effects of previous initiatives. As I said at the recent RGT harm minimisation conference, government and industry should never feel that there is an end point to social responsibility. Industry owes a duty of care to its customers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the costs to the NHS of the treatment of people with addiction to fixed odds betting terminals.

Alistair Burt

No such estimate has been made.

We have no current plans to make such an assessment. We know that gambling addiction can potentially have a harmful impact on both a person’s physical and mental wellbeing and problem gamblers can access services in primary care and secondary care including specialised mental health and addiction services.

The Prime Minister recently announced £1 billion to start a revolution in mental health, including £247 million to make sure that every emergency department has mental health support (following £30 million invested in 2015/16).

Also, over £400 million for crisis resolution home treatment teams will help to improve the management of admissions to acute psychiatric inpatient care, as well as ensure the routine availability of 24/7 intensive home treatment support as a safe and effective alternative to hospitals.

Commissioners must continue to increase investment in mental health services each year at a level which at least matches their overall allocation increase.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what further analysis is required to be undertaken by his Department before launching the next Triennial Review of gaming machine stakes and prizes.

Tracey Crouch

As previously stated in the House of Commons, Government is reviewing the situation and I hope to announce details of a review in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with regard to fixed odds betting terminals, what steps are being taken to (a) ensure that the player protection measures introduced from April 2015 are effectively evaluated and (b) independently assess whether the £50 threshold for supervised play is set at an effective level.

Tracey Crouch

The Government, along with the Gambling Commission, is in the process of evaluating the effects of ending unsupervised stakes over £50 and I hope to publish the results early in the new year.