§ Q4. Mr. Arthur Davidsonasked the Prime Minister if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the problems arising from gambling and gaming laws.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I am satisfied that the Gaming Board will continue to keep a tight control over gaming.
§ Mr. DavidsonDoes my right hon. Friend agree that the Gaming Act has been one of the most effective means of backing up the police? It has cut down the number of clubs and got rid of some of the undesirable elements, the racketeers and musclemen, who had come into the gaming world as the direct result of the naive legislation drawn up by the Conservative Government? Will he continue to give full support to the Gaming Board in its efforts to bring gaming into manageable proportions?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. When right hon. Gentlemen opposite seek to make law and order a football in party politics, they should take account of the fact that the Act of 1960, however well intentioned, was, as my hon. Friend said, very naive and led to the danger of a big importation—a brain drain in reverse—of Mafia types into this country. It is the action of this Government that has stopped it.
§ Mr. DeedesLeaving politics out of it, will the Prime Minister keep a close eye on the workings of the Gaming Board, bearing in mind that the principles of justice which we seek to apply in these matters ought to apply even to people who run gaming establishments?
§ The Prime MinisterThe principles of justice are laid down, in the Act introduced by this Administration, by Parliament, and these were matters of much debate and many amendments. It must always be for Parliament in drafting legislation to bear this in mind. But 196 the right hon. Gentleman would be the first to agree, leaving politics out of it, as I know he always does, like his right hon. Friend the shadow Home Secretary —[Interruption.] We put up with a lot from right hon. Gentlemen opposite. Leaving politics out of it—it is our politics that stopped the Mafia, not theirs.
§ Mr. PagetIs my right hon. Friend aware that I entirely agree with what he has said about the Act? Indeed, unlike my right hon. Friend, I voted against it. Is he also aware that the chairman of the board is finding his powers inadequate and urgently requires additional powers, and will my right hon. Friend reconsider looking into this matter?
§ The Prime MinisterCertainly, Sir. If any powers are needed to make this control effective—and this is control not on the question of justice referred to by the right hon. Gentleman, but on the more seamy side of gaming—it will be for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to bring proposals before the House.
§ Mr. MartenIs the Prime Minister aware that it is because of the widespread feeling that a Mafia is operating that perfectly respectable casinos in perfectly respectable towns like Banbury have been closed down? Should not much more latitude be allowed to local authorities to decide whether casinos should continue?
§ The Prime MinisterI am aware of representations on this question from a number of localities, in addition to that mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, but these are matters to address to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and not to be taken up at this time.