Memorandum from the Rt Hon Lord McIntosh
(DGB 182)
Thank you for your letter of 15 October regarding
betting exchanges.
We are obviously aware of the debate surrounding
the operation of betting exchanges. Peter Savill has made the
case for an independent inquiry directly in a letter to the Department.
Richard Caborn has responded to Peter, making it clear that the
Joint Committee will be looking at the issues in detail, and that
a further review would therefore be unnecessary.
The publication of clauses in the near future
will include the latest draft relating to the exchanges. I look
forward to hearing the Committee's views on the matter.
Betting Exchanges
THURSDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2003
At a meeting in London on Tuesday of this week
between Minister for Sport Richard Caborn and BHB Chairman Peter
Savill it was agreed that, when the Gambling Bill Joint Scrutiny
Committee comes to consider betting exchanges, it might usefully
focus on their potential impact on the integrity of sports.
Richard Caborn said today:
"Preservation of the integrity of any sport
is paramount and I share Peter Savill's view that there are potential
threats and that they need to be properly looked at. The Joint
Scrutiny Committee is one vehicle for this and I shall be encouraging
the Committee in this direction. While I see no reason to set
up a separate Committee of Inquiry at this stage, we shall of
course carefully consider the views of the Scrutiny Committee
and, if any additional analysis is then needed, we shall not hesitate
to consider the matter further."
Peter Savill added:
"I reiterated to the Minister Racing's concerns
about the potential threats which Betting Exchanges pose to the
integrity of the sport and the vital need for effective regulation
and policing. In so doing I emphasised Racing's desire to be satisfied
that these concerns are thoroughly and independently analysed
so that appropriate measures can be introduced into the Gambling
Bill and by Racing itself to combat any problems which are shown
to exist. That this review is done effectively is more important
than the precise method by which it is done.
"I therefore welcome the Minister's commitment
to urging that the issues are examined in detail by the Joint
Scrutiny Committee, to which we shall be submitting detailed evidence
at the appropriate time."
November 2003
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