RACECOURSE BETTING CONTROL BOARD

HC Deb 08 February 1945 vol 407 cc2215-6

34. Sir R. Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who has been appointed Chairman of the Racecourse Betting Control Board; who are the other members; what was the date of the last published report of the affairs of this Board; and, if Parliament can now be informed, in accordance with the Act that set up their organisation, what has been done, and at what cost.

Mr. H. Morrison

Since the death of Sir Clement Hindley, no appointment has been made to the chairmanship of the Board, but my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon (Sir R. Blair) is acting as Chairman. Apart from the Chairman, the Board consists of 11 members, the names of whom I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. A report of the proceedings of the Board, together with a statement of their accounts, has been presented annually to Parliament, in accordance with the Racecourse Betting Act, 1928. For reasons of economy, the reports for the years subsequent to 1939 have not been printed, but I understand that my hon. Friend has now been supplied by the Board with copies of these reports.

Sir R. Glyn

Is it not rather peculiar that a Parliamentary Paper, which should be laid annually, is not laid, for reasons of economy? Are there other examples in which it is incumbent to lay papers and in which papers have not been laid?

Mr. Morrison

Quite a number. Because of the need for economy, difficulties arising from the war effort, and the shortage of paper, that is quite common in these days.

Colonel Sir Charles MacAndrew

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the Library of the House there is a copy of the Report of the Racecourse Betting Control Board?

Mr. Morrison

I believe that that is so, and I am much obliged to my hon. and gallant Friend for drawing attention to it.

Sir R. Glyn

Is there a list of documents which have not been presented to Parliament?

Mr. Morrison

I could not say. There is a considerable number of Departments involved.

Following are the names:

MEMBERS OF THE RACECOURSE BETTING CONTROL BOARD

Names and Appointing Authorities

• Sir Reginald Blair, D.L., M.P., J.P.—The Secretary of State for the Home Department.
• Colonel Sir Charles MacAndrew, M.P.—The Secretary of State for Scotland.
• The Hon. Alexander Parker—The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
• General Sir John DuCane, G.C.B.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer.
• The Rt. Hon. Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, K.T., C.V.O.—The Jockey Club.
• The Rt. Hon. Lord Portal, D.S.O., M.V.O.—The Jockey Club.
• The Rt. Hon. the Earl of Rosebery, D.S.O., M.C.—The Jockey Club.
• Mr. E. L. Gosling—The National Hunt Committee.
• Mr. E. Holland Martin—The National Hunt Committee.
• Mr. E. E. Robinson—The Racecourse Association, Limited.
• Mr. W. E. Fry—The Committee of Tattersalls.