§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the way in which section 42 of the Gaming Act operates in so far as it refers to bingo; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WaddingtonIn the 12 months to 15 March 1990, four hon. Members have asked questions about any plans which we might have to amend section 42 of the Gaming Act 1968 in so far as it provides controls on the advertising of licensed bingo clubs, and we received 102 letters from hon. Members, and one letter from a member of the public, about these controls. The correspondence from hon. Members has mainly been on behalf of constituents employed in the licensed bingo club industry who supported a campaign by the Bingo Association of Great Britain (BAGB) for the complete removal of the controls.
As the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr. Lloyd), explained in his reply on 17 January—at column 265—to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson), we have informed the BAGB that we cannot accept its campaign, but that it is open to it to resume discussions with the Gaming Board for Great Britain on the scope, if any, for some relaxation of the controls. I understand that the board has offered the BAGB a date next month for such discussions.