§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will give an opportunity for this House to express its opinion before any decision is reached as to the nature of any inquiry into the betting and gaming laws and their application.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)My Lords, it would not be the normal practice to make special arrangements for this House to discuss the nature of an inquiry of this kind, but the Government are very willing to listen to any views that noble Lords may wish to express on the issue.
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I will repeat the entire Answer; it might be more convenient. My Lords, it would not be the normal practice to make special arrangements for this House to discuss the nature of an inquiry of this kind, but the Government are very willing to listen to any views that noble Lords may wish to express on the issue.
§ Lord WIGGMy Lords, I am much obliged for that Answer. Would the noble Lord be kind enough to say in what form these expressions of view should take place? The matter is one of tremendous importance both from a social and from a fiscal point of view. Also, is it not perfectly clear that, if the Government should decide—and I can understand the arguments for it—that they should proceed by way of a Royal 606 Commission (and the noble Lord will of course notice that the Press is full of reports to that effect), it would be tantamount to saying that legislation will not be taken in the light of this Parliament and that, that being so, these problems, which stem from disjointed attitudes towards the question by all Governments, can only become immeasurably worse, with very serious social consequences?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHYes, my Lords, I have seen some speculation in the Press about this matter. The fact is that the Government are considering this matter at the moment and whether there should be an inquiry and, if so, what form it should take. And if any noble Lords have any views on this matter and they would like to write to either the Home Secretary or myself, I will make quite sure that their views are taken into account.
§ Lord WIGGMy Lords, I take it from the noble Lord's reply—it is a question of tense—that the Government are considering; so the reports which have appeared in the Press that it has already been decided to have a Royal Commission are untrue. Secondly, if the Government are willing to consider the views, not only of myself (and that is of no importance) but of all Parties in the House, would not the best way to consider the matter be to have a debate so that considerations from all points of view can be taken aboard by the Government, and then they can make up their mind?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, it would of course not be a matter for me to decide on the question whether there should be a debate in this House. This is certainly, as my noble friend points out, an important matter. Furthermore, my noble friend is quite right in saying that the Government have not taken a final decision in this matter on the form an inquiry should take. That is still to be decided.
§ Earl COWLEYMy Lords, will the noble Lord confirm to the House that the Government do actually recognise the need for an inquiry of one kind or another into this very important area of domestic law?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHYes, my Lords; I have endeavoured to do my best to say that that is so.
Lord JANNERMy Lords, in considering the matter will my noble friend bear in mind that only this week we had occasion to refer to a committee which started to sit some 10 years ago in respect of a matter of some considerable importance—coroners' courts—and even to this very day no decision has been arrived at by any Government? In the circumstances, will the Minister take note of what my noble friend has said, that we ought to do something other than have this matter dealt with in a similar manner?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHYes, my Lords, I take note of my noble friend's view.
§ Lord WIGGMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that he will not be disgruntled if, on giving the matter further consideration, steps are taken to ensure that there is a debate before the House rises?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, my noble friend has made that point in the presence of my noble friends the Leader of the House and the Chief Whip and it is a matter for them, not for me.