§ Lord Harrisonasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the anticipated impact of conversion to euros on the number and total value of coins in circulation and the consequences for the gaming machine industry, what progress is being made with a deregulation order to allow note acceptors, smart cards and replay-off-win meters for gaming machines. [HL3236]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)Subject to consultation with interested bodies, we see good arguments for some relaxation of the present 21WA restrictions on payment for the use of gaming machines other than by coins, whether or not euro coins are in use. We are currently discussing with the British Amusement Catering Trades Association, which represents the gaming machine industry, the terms of the consultation document which would be required for an order under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. We hope to issue it shortly.