27. Viscountess Astorasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider introducing legislation prohibiting gaming machines in this country, on the lines of that recently passed by the Government of the Union of South Africa?
§ Sir S. HoareThe legislation to which the Noble Lady refers is based on the prohibition of particular machines designated by the Minister of Justice, and, as at present advised, I do not think it would be suitable for adoption in this country.
Viscountess AstorIs the Home Secretary aware that the Secretary of State for Scotland said that money was being squandered, children debauched, and juvenile crime fostered by these machines, and that Scotland has prohibited them? If Scotland has prohibited them, could not England do so also?
§ Sir S. HoareThe Noble Lady has raised a different question. I answered a similar question a week or two ago, and I have nothing to add to the answer I then gave. The Noble Lady's question refers to an Act of Parliament of the Union of South Africa.
Viscountess AstorMay I inform my right hon. Friend that this question was put down in the hope of getting a more favourable answer than was given before, in view of the fact that waste and even crime are caused by allowing these machines to go on?
§ Mr. Rhys DaviesIs it not a fact that in some parts of our country gaming machines are confiscated by order of the chief constable, whereas in other parts the same kind of machines are left alone?
§ Sir S. HoareI have asked the police authorities to look into this matter and see whether we could not raise the standard of administration of the existing law.
§ Mr. PooleWould the to talisators that are used for the purpose of horse-racing come within this category?