§ 21. Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to seek to change the law on gambling.
§ Mr. John PattenYes. My right hon. Friend announced on 5 October that he proposes by regulation under the Lotteries and Amusements Act 1976 to prohibit "multiple" lotteries and by order to increase monetary limits on individual lotteries under the Act. We keep the law on gambling under review, but have no other immediate plans to change it.
§ Mr. ThompsonI am grateful for the opportunity to ask this question. Is my hon. Friend aware of the concern felt in Norwich and elsewhere about young people who go into gambling arcades and get themselves into serious difficulties? Does he propose to give any further thought to this matter or take any action?
§ Mr. PattenI am aware of the concern in Norwich, because of the delegation which my hon. Friend recently led to see me in the Home Office. We have made a recent announcement about our proposals to tighten up—with the co-operation of the gambling industry and of local authorities—access to amusement arcades. We hope and believe that those will have a substantial effect on the limited numbers of young people who suffer from an addiction to gambling.