HC Deb 16 June 1999 vol 333 cc170-1W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the potential loss of revenue from offshore betting; what plans he has to prevent such loss; and if he will make a statement. [87104]

Dawn Primarolo

The Government keep the revenue yield from General Betting Duty under constant review. The transfer offshore of a single telephone betting business will have a minimal effect on government revenues.

The extent of overseas bookmaking operations is constrained by a prohibition on them advertising in the United Kingdom. The scope of this prohibition is the subject of an impending challenge in the High Court. The Government will take the outcome of this case into account when deciding on appropriate courses of action to safeguard the revenue.