HC Deb 14 December 1965 vol 722 cc257-8W
Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Minister of Labour what was the estimated amount spent on all forms of gambling in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. Thornton

Statistical information about money spent on betting and gaming is not comprehensive and estimates are subject to considerable margins of error.

Mr. Thornton

On 6th December, there were 133 persons registered as wholly unemployed at the Petersfield Employment Exchange representing 1.3 per cent. of the estimated number of employees in the area.

Miss Quennell

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish the figures of registered unemployed in the Petersfield constituency, by age groups.

Mr. Thornton

I regret that figures are not available for the Petersfield constituency. The following table gives the information for the areas of the Alton and Petersfield Employment Exchanges which together comprise the greater part of the constituency.

For this reason a series of figures for each of the last ten years could mislead. Estimates of consumers' expenditure—that is to say stakes less winnings—on gambling are for 1955, £80 million and for 1964, £170 million.