§ 13. Mr. Juddasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to control the increase of United States investment in gambling in Great Britain.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe Gaming Act, 1968, provides that no one may apply for a licence to promote commercial gaming except with the consent of the Gaming Board, which must first be satisfied of his trustworthiness, taking into account his financial backing. One of the objects is to exclude investment from undesirable sources, whether here or overseas.
§ Mr. JuddWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask if he will specifically refute the allegations in the Wall Street Journal last November that American gangsters were planning big investments in British gambling and assure the House that, whatever may be the pressures in terms of the balance of payments and so on, we shall continue to exercise the strictest possible control?
§ Mr. CallaghanThe Exchange Control Regulations provide us with an appropriate way of ensuring liaison between the Treasury and myself on questions of foreign investment and gambling. On the allegations about the Mafia, I obviously have no idea what they are planning, but if they were to try to establish a foothold here, there are many weapons in our armoury for repelling that undesirable organisation.
§ Mr. HoggIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is widespread anxiety that he should bring in the Regulations and use his powers under the recent Act, as there is widespread uncertainty as to the future, which uncertainty can only be dispelled by the 1550 exercise of those powers in a clear manner.
§ Mr. CallaghanYes, Sir, but I do not think that that has any relationship to the original question.