§ Sir Timothy Kitsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to implement the recommendations of a Royal Commission on gambling for the British horse racing authority.
§ Mr. WhitelawI have considered this recommendation very carefully in consultation with my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State with responsibilities for sport. While I appreciate the attention given to this subject by the Royal Commission on gambling and the reasons which led it to propose a British horse racing authority, I have reached the conclusion that such an authority is not needed at the present time. I welcome the steps now being taken by the racing industry to establish a consultative body representative of all sectors of the industry, which would advise the Horserace Betting Levy Board. I very much hope that the industry will be able to come forward with agreed proposals for setting up such a body.