LORD NUNBURNHOLMEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government, whether, since the practical administration and control of gaming places by the Gaming Board will depend on the number of gaming places, they will consider reducing that number, not to 300 as recently mentioned in another place, but to 15 or 20, as in France.]
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, it is the intention that the number of clubs should be restricted to that necessary to meet the irreducible demand; but it is unrealistic to suppose that they could be reduced to as few as 15 or 20 without grave danger of driving gaming into criminal hands. The noble Lord is mistaken in his analogy with France, where there are at least 150 casinos, in addition to other clubs where gaming takes place.