HL Deb 16 December 1992 vol 541 cc40-1WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether employees of off-course bookmakers will be consulted over the possible extension of betting shop hours, whether they will be offered a choice between working in the evening or maintaining their existing contractual hours and whether any of the major bookmakers have consulted their employees over terms and conditions of evening work.

Earl Ferrers

We issued a consultation document in October 1991 inviting the views of all interested parties, including betting office employees, on whether licensed betting offices should be open in the evening and, if so, at what times. Hours and patterns of work, and any consultation procedures, are matters for individual employers to agree with their employees as part of their normal contractual arrangements.

Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) which organisations have been consulted this year over the options for evening opening of licensed betting offices; and (b) how many were in favour and how many against.

Earl Ferrers

We issued a consultation document in October 1991 inviting the views of all interested parties on the options for evening opening of licensed betting offices. Copies were sent to the following organisations:

  • Association of Chief Police Officers,
  • Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland,
  • Association of County Councils,
  • Association of District Councils,
  • Association of London Authorities,
  • Association of Metropolitan Authorities,
  • Association of Scottish Police Superintendents,
  • Betting Office Licensees Association,
  • Bookmakers' Afternoon Greyhound Service,
  • Bookmakers' Committee,
  • British Greyhound Racing Board,
  • District Courts' Association,
  • Federation of British Greyhound Owners' Associations,
  • Gamblers' Anonymous General Services Board,
  • Greyhound Breeders' Forum,
  • Greyhound Trainers' Association,
  • Horserace Betting Levy Board,
  • Horserace Totalisator Board,
  • Horseracing Advisory Council,
  • Jockeys' Association of Great Britain,
  • Justices Clerks' Society,
  • London Boroughs Association,
  • Magistrates' Association,
  • Metropolitan Police Solicitors' Department,
  • National Association of Bookmakers,
  • National Association of Greyhound Owners,
    • WA41
  • National Association of Local Councils,
  • National Association for the Protection of Punters,
  • National Consumer Council,
  • National Council on Gambling,
  • National Sporting League,
  • National Trainers' Federation,
  • NGRC Racecourse Promoters Limited,
  • Northern Bookmakers' Protection Association,
  • Northern Independent Bookmakers' Association,
  • Police Federation of England and Wales,
  • Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales,
  • Racecourse Association,
  • Racegoers' Club,
  • Racehorse Owners' Association,
  • Satellite Information Services,
  • Scottish Churches Council,
  • Scottish Consumer Council,
  • Scottish Police Federation,
  • Sheriffs' Association,
  • Society for the Study of Gambling,
  • Stable Lads' Association,
  • The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities,
  • The Gordon House Association,
  • The Jockey Club,
  • The Scottish SP Bookmakers' Association,
  • Thoroughbreed Breeders' Association,
  • Transport and General Workers' Union,
  • UK Forum on Young People and Gambling,
  • Welsh Consumer Council.

Twenty-nine of these organisations replied. Sixteen were in favour of the principle of evening opening, nine were opposed and a further four expressed reservations.