§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the workings of the Gaming Act; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. CarlisleI am satisfied that the Act is achieving what Parliament intended.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many gaming licences in total there are in the United Kingdom since 1st January 1972 to the latest available date: and how these figures compare with the previous five years;
1970 1971 1972 1973 Total gaming licences granted and renewed in Great Britain as at 1st January in each year — 128 145 134 Total gaming licences granted and renewed in Liverpool as at 1st January in each year — 7 4 4 Total gaming licences revoked in Great Britain — 1 — — Total gaming licences revoked in Liverpool — — — — Applications for gaming licences outstanding in Liverpool — — — — Total income from grant, renewal and transfer of gaming licences in Great Britain (approximate) £129,500 £37,000 £43,750 Not yet available Notes: 1 These figures refer to clubs licensed under the Gaming Act 1968 for general gaming other than bingo. 2. The relevant provisions of the Act came into force on 1st July 1970. 3. Fees for the grant, renewal and transfer of licences under the Gaming Act 1968 are payable to licensing authorities. The bulk of these become payable at the end of May each year. 4. The figures for total income under the Gaming Act 1968 do not include duty payable under the Betting and Gaming Duties Act 1972. 5. The Gaming Act 1968 does not extend to Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many raids by police have been made on illegal gaming establishments in Liverpool since 1st January 1972 to the most recent avail-
286W(2) how many gaming licences there are in Liverpool from 1st January 1972 to the latest available date; and how these figures compare with the previous five years;
(3) how many gaming establishments have had their licence revoked in the United Kingdom since 1st January 1972 to the most recent available date; and how these figures compare with the previous five years;
(4) how many gaming establishments have had their gaming licence revoked since 1st January 1972 in Liverpool to the most recent available date; and how these figures compare with the previous five years;
(5) how many applications for gaming licences are outstanding in Liverpool to the most recent available date;
(6) what is the total income from gaming licences in the United Kingdom since 1st January 1972 to the most recent available date; and how these figures compare with the previous five years.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe available information is as follows:
able date; and how these figures compare with the previous five years.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe Chief Constable of Liverpool and Bootle informs me that the number of search warrants executed 287W under Section 43(4) of the Gaming Act 1968, which relates to premises in which there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence against the Act has been or is about to be commited, is:
1969 … … … 10 1970 … … … 6 1971 … … … 7 1972 to date … … … 7
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been convicted for illegal gaming in Liverpool since 1st January 1972 to the most recent available date; and how these figures compare with the previous five years.
§ Mr. CarlisleI shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible with information relating to 1972, the latest date for which statistics are available. I regret that the information relating to previous years cannot be obtained without a disproportionate cost to public funds.