§ 12. Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of betting shops so far opened; and what steps he proposes to take to limit their number.
§ Mr. BrookeThe number of betting office licences in force in England, Wales and Scotland on 1st June, 1962, the latest date for which figures are available, was 13,340. The local licensing authorities responsible for the grant or renewal of betting office licences have power to refuse an application on the ground that the grant or renewal of a licence would be inexpedient having regard to the demand in the locality and to the number of offices available to meet it. I have no further legislative proposals at present in mind.