Mr. FawnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the weekly attendances at licensed bingo clubs; how many arrests have taken place in bingo clubs over the last 12 months; and how many complaints about the membership scheme for those attending bingo clubs he has received over the last five years.
§ Mr. John PattenThe Gaming Board for Great Britain believes that in total there may be in excess of 2 million attendances weekly at licensed bingo clubs in Great Britain. There is no power of arrest for offences under the Gaming Act 1968, which regulates licensed bingo. Representations about this system of regulation which have been made to the Home Office or the board in the past five years are not categorised routinely by those referring to the requirement for gaming in licensed bingo clubs to be operated under a membership scheme.