§ 10. Mr. HuttonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for deregulating the bingo industry. [1362]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Timothy Kirkhope)We are at present reviewing the controls on bingo clubs as part of the Government's deregulation initiative.
§ Mr. HuttonDoes the Minister accept the need to establish a level playing field on which all sections of the gambling industry are able to compete against each other fairly? How much longer will bingo clubs in my constituency and elsewhere, which perform a valuable social role in the community, continue to face petty and bureaucratic restrictions on advertising and on the number of coin-operated machines that they contain?
§ Mr. KirkhopeI am very pleased that the hon. Gentleman shares my concern and interest in the bingo industry; I have recently seen a number of groups representing the industry. I hope to be able very shortly to address the points that he has mentioned and help the bingo industry to achieve greater success in the future.
§ Mr. WhittingdaleDoes my hon. Friend accept that it is impossible to lose more than a handful of pounds in the course of an evening's visit to a bingo hall, unlike a casino, where literally thousands of pounds can be lost in a short time? Does he agree that there is no reason for bingo to be subjected to the same degree of regulation as the casino industry? Will he consider subjecting the industry to the deregulation process?
§ Mr. KirkhopeI shall certainly do so. My hon. Friend is right to refer to the difference between bingo and casinos and other forms of gambling. I am sure that the deregulation process can be selective in that way, but it is important to ensure that those who want to go about perfectly legitimate entertainment such as bingo should be able to do so with the minimum of regulation.