Bookmakers in Hackney

Meg raised the issue of gambling and betting shops with the Prime Minister at Question Time. Meg asked the Prime Minister to take action on this issue by supporting my colleague Dame Joan Ruddock MPs Private Members Bill that would give local authorities more planning power over bookies. Meg have also written to him to ask him to support measures to give local authorities more planning powers over bookies.

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Meg Hillier (Hackney South and Shoreditch) On the subject of gambling, Hackney has 90 bookies"”three times the national average. Will the Prime Minister listen to the debate that took place yesterday and take action this Friday and instruct his Ministers to support the private Member's Bill that will be before the House and will give local authorities more planning powers over bookies?

The Prime Minister: I will certainly look at the debate the hon. Lady mentions and the ideas expressed in it. We are all for localism and giving local authorities greater powers in these sorts of regards. I will look at the suggestion she makes.