§ 35. Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated number of betting shops established in the last two years in Scotland.
§ Mr. NobleI am collecting statements of betting office licences in force on 1st June, 1962. These will be laid before Parliament in the autumn. Meantime, I should not like to estimate what the total will prove to be.
§ Mr. HamiltonWould it be accurate to say that many hundreds of betting shops have been established during the last two years or so and that the number employed in the betting industry in Scotland during the past ten years has increased by more than 65 per cent.? Is this an indication that the Scottish economy is getting going under the present Government?
§ Mr. NobleAs the hon. Gentleman knows, the number of licences is a matter for the licensing courts. As 581 regards employment, the hon. Gentleman will remember that the President of the Board of Trade in his speech two weeks ago gave figures of considerable increases in one or two other sections of our economy.
§ Mr. HamiltonCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us how much building material and how many building workers are currently employed either on building new betting shops or on modernising existing buildings for the provision of these facilities?