14. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that complaints are being made of the manner in which the totalisators are being operated at the Albion Greyhound Racing Track, Ibrox, Glasgow; whether any complaints have been made to the local police or the Procurator-Fiscal; and whether any action is proposed to be taken?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Craigie Aitchison)I am aware that complaints of the nature referred to by my hon. Friend have been made by one association, and that in one case an alleged contravention of Section 4 (1) of the Racecourse Betting Act, 1928, was reported. The available evidence, however, negatived the contravention.
Mr. MACLEANHas the office of the right hon. and learned Gentleman not received complaints of juveniles being allowed to use these "totes" on tracks, which is in contravention of the Act?
§ The LORD ADVOCATEThere have been allegations of a general kind of the nature indicated by the hon. Member, but the only specific case received by the criminal authorities is the case referred to in the question, and, on investigation, the evidence negatived the idea of contravention.
Mr. MACLEANIs it not a fact that the case of a boy betting under 17 years of age was taken before the police on the racecourse, who took the boy's name, and that nothing further has been done?
§ The LORD ADVOCATEThat case, if it happened, was not reported to my Department.
§ Mr. FOOTHas the right hon. and learned Gentleman himself taken into consideration the wording of the Act restricting the totalisator to horse racecourses, and cannot he, apart from the decision of the courts, give us some guidance in this matter?