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CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
Draft Gambling Bill
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Tessa Jowell): I have today published the major sections of the draft Gambling Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.
The Bill will make major changes to the way in which gambling is regulated and controlled in Great Britain. It will build on the work undertaken by Sir Alan Budd and the Gambling Review Body that he led.
It is based on the three key principles:
- First, the principle that the system of gambling law and regulation must keep the gambling industry free of crime. Our industry has a high international reputation for integrity, which must not be put at risk;
Second, the law must ensure that gambling is conducted fairly, so that players know what to expect; and
Third, there must be effective protection for children and the vulnerable.
The current laws on gambling dating back to the 1960s have failed to keep pace with rapid technological change. Attitudes to gambling have changed too. The law needs to be modernised but we must make sure that it is flexible enough to cope with further change.
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In A Safe Bet for Success (published in March 2002, Cm 5397) we accepted the vast majority of the Gambling Review's recommendations. Since then, we have been working closely with the interested industries, representatives of groups encouraging responsible gambling, local authorities, consumer groups, other Government Departments and the devolved administrations to prepare draft legislation that would give effect to this new system of regulation.
The proposals published today build on and subsume the draft clauses published in July 2003. They will simplify regulation by establishing a single regulator for commercial gambling. The Gambling Commission will have wider functions, greater flexibility to act and stronger enforcement powers than the Gaming board that it will replace. Local authorities will license all types of gambling premises, to ensure that local people have a say in where gambling outlets are sited. The draft Bill will keep crime out of gambling and protect the industry's reputation for integrity and excellence. The Gambling Commission will be a strong, effective regulator and will root out illegal gambling; its staff will have statutory powers of entry, search and seizure.
The draft Bill also removes unnecessary restrictions on the ability of business to meet consumers' wishes. The rule allowing casinos to be established only in designated parts of the country will be abolished, as will the rule requiring membership of a casino or bingo club at least 24 hours before playing. Remote gambling, for example on the Internet, interactive TV and through mobile telephones, will be licensed and regulated effectively in Great Britain for the first time.
The published clauses also strengthen safeguards protecting children and the vulnerable. The current minimum age limits for access to gambling products will be retained and enforced strongly. The draft Bill also includes reserve powers for a statutory levy on gambling operators. These powers will be used if the gambling industry does not keep its promises to contribute to a charitable trust funding research, prevention and treatment programmes for problem gambling.
A Joint Committee of both Houses has been convened to examine the Government's draft proposals. I am confident that what they will scrutinise is a set of mature proposals that will achieve a sensible reform of the law on gambling. Such scrutiny will improve the legislation and build parliamentary understanding and public confidence, enabling us to strike the right balance between deregulation and the protection of young and vulnerable people.
I intend to publish the remaining sections of the draft Bill early next year.
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DEFENCE
Medical Supply Agency
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram): Key targets have been set for the Chief Executive of the MSA for Financial Year 2003–04. The targets build on the progress already made by the Agency since it formed in March 1996 and are as follows:
Meeting Operational Medical Equipment and Materiel Requirements
To build and deliver, to schedule and within budget, all modules on the Operational Build programme as agreed with our key customers, the Defence Medical Services Department (DMSD), and to meet all authorised operational requirements for equipment, medical consumables and blood products.
Meeting the Medical Equipment and Materiel Requirements for the in-vear Exercise and Training Programme
To build and deliver, to schedule and within budget, all modules on the Exercise and Training Build Programme as agreed with DMSD, and to meet all authorised requirements for equipment, medical consumables and blood products.
To meet demands for Category B items (commonly used items with a unit cost of less than £100 and approved by DMSD) from units and authorised demanders in the UK and overseas within the MSA Charter Response Times (Next Day, 3 Days), as follows:
| Per cent | |
|---|---|
| (a) Top 250 by value | |
| Within Charter Response Time | 95 |
| Follow up (within 5 days) | 97 |
| (b) Overall | |
| Within Charter Response Time | 90 |
| Follow up (within 5 days) | 97 |
Procurement of Medical Equipment
Develop and implement a strategy to improve medical equipment and materiel Whole Life Management with our customers.
To work with our customers and stakeholders with the objective of delivering the key elements of the MS A Change Programme which will deliver significant
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improvements in the effectiveness and efficiency of the medical supply chain, contribute to CDL's strategic objectives, and improve delivery to our customers.
Armed Forces Pension Scheme
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Ivor Caplin): After the introduction of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) in 1973, the Royal Air Force has, for the purposes of awarding pensions, been reviewing War Pension Scheme decisions on whether injuries, ill-health or deaths were due to service using the normal civil standard of proof ("balance of probabilities"). The War Pension Scheme uses a "beyond reasonable doubt" standard in favour of the claimant for the first seven years after leaving service. This interpretation of AFPS scheme regulations was challenged in a complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman who found in favour of the claimant, Mrs Hulme. The Ombudsman's decision was upheld on appeal in the High Court and has today been further upheld in the Court of Appeal on the basis that the relevant regulations required AFPS administrators to accept the decision on attributability taken under the War Pension Scheme. I have decided that the Ministry of Defence will not seek leave to appeal the Court of Appeal judgement further to the House of Lords.
Following this decision, the Department will now review previous decisions on entitlement to attributable pensions for those conditions that led to invaliding or to death-in-service where AFPS administrators have previously not accepted War Pension Scheme decisions on attributability. Awards will be backdated and the Department will consider compensation to reflect the effect of inflation on the value of pensions over the period of non-payment. I expect to make a further announcement on this matter early in the New Year.
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Initial research indicates that the incorrect interpretation of the regulations is likely to have affected Royal Air Force compensation payments since soon after 1973, and Army and perhaps some Royal Navy claims since 2000.
We do not know how many pensioners are likely to have been affected or the likely cost. However, a substantial number of pension award decisions will need to be reviewed to ensure that all those at risk are identified. At present, we expect it to take around a year to complete this review. Payments will be made as soon as possible. We will also be using appropriate advertising to publicise to the ex-Service community those categories of pensioner who might be affected and how claims can be lodged. We will consider these as quickly as possible. The judgement does not affect the benefits paid under the War Pension Scheme.
The Department will abide fully by the Court of Appeal decision with respect to claims from the past or where a decision is still pending. However, I have decided that, for the future, as soon as the relevant changes can be made to secondary legislation, the Department should establish the right of AFPS administrators to take a second decision on attributability, using the balance of probabilities standard of proof. This is the standard of proof used for other public service occupational schemes, as well as for decisions in the civil courts and for the recently proposed new Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS
Autumn Performance Report
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Margaret Beckett): The 2003 Autumn Performance Report, which highlights my Department's progress against all its outstanding Public Service Agreement targets, will be published on 21 November. Copies will be placed both Libraries of the House.