Problem gambling in the UK: Lords to question department directors
On Tuesday 16 July the House of Lords Select Committee on the Social and Economic Impact of the Gambling Industry will hold its first evidence session. Speaking to the Committee will be directors from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Department for Education and the Department for Health and Social Care.
The Committee has been established to consider a number of issues relating to gambling and the gambling industry. These are expected to include: the current state of the industry; the lack of accurate estimates of the extent of the problem; developments in gambling habits, in particular online gambling; the ‘gamblification' of sport; the industry's contribution towards research, and the education and treatment of problem gamblers; whether those who need help have access to it; advertising; and lotteries.
Giving evidence to the Committee at 3.20pm will be:
- Julie Carney, Head of Gambling and Lotteries, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
- Richard Vaughan, Deputy Director for the Life Skills Division in the Education
- Tim Baxter, Deputy Director, Healthy Behaviours, Department of Health and Social Care
Questions will focus on:
- The cost of problem gambling in Great Britain, and the benefits of the industry to the UK economy
- Which government department is the most appropriate to lead on gambling
- The voluntary levy and how the money raised is spent
- Voluntary curbs on advertising
- The relationship, if there is one, between gambling and suicide in the UK
- NHS initiatives to tackle problem gambling in the UK.
