§ 31. Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of totalisator clubs known to be in existence in December, 1323 1932, and the number known to exist on the last convenient date; and whether those now in existence are operating for cash or credit?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)On 16th December, 1932, approximately 250 clubs, in which betting transactions through a totalisator took place, were known to be in existence in England and Wales. By the middle of last March all these clubs had ceased to operate totalisators, and, so far as is known, no totalisator clubs are operating at present in England and Wales.
§ Mr. DAVIESHas the right hon. Gentleman any information about Scotland?
§ 32. Mr. DAVIESasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the recent court ruling that totalisator clubs are legal as long as money is not actually handed over for the tickets from the totalisator machine at the time the bet is made, the Government will introduce legislation to effect the complete suppression of these clubs?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am aware of the decision in the recent case of Streatham Cinema, Limited, v. John McLauchlan, Limited. As regards the intentions of the Government, I can only refer to the statement made by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in this House on the 7th February, 1933, to the effect that, should changes in the methods of conducting betting operations through the totalisator in tote clubs be adopted, and should it be found that the existing law is inadequate to deal with them, the Government would introduce any legislation which may be found necessary to effect the complete suppression of these clubs.