5. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services: The Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report 2016-17

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:57 pm on 6 February 2018.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 4:57, 6 February 2018

Thank you for the comments and questions. On the overall point—the liberalisation of gambling—that's something that we have all recognised: that, actually, the growth in online gambling, in particular, is causing real challenges for us. For all the exhortation encouraging people to be responsible gamblers and encouraging the industry to be more responsible, actually, it hasn't led to the sort of shifts in behaviour that we'd want to see, and that's why I think, even within the UK Government, which instinctively wants to encourage people to act in industry, as opposed to having, if you like, a regulatory approach, they are shifting their own views. Certainly, the fixed-odds betting terminal issue is a good example of where they are now consulting and, actually, regulating a very different approach, because they recognise the harm that's being done. This is a completely liberalised area, with very significant harms that can be done in a very quick period of time. So, there is some awareness, but we will need to think about how we can actively use our powers here in Wales.

That's why, as I've indicated earlier, the chief medical officer is leading work with stakeholders to look at what we can do, what we should do, both in the here and now, and also looking ahead to the powers that we'll acquire in April of this year. Indeed, you've heard in the statement and the questions already today about the research Jane Hutt referred to that Citizens Advice are doing in Cardiff and Vale. There's a range of other people who are undertaking their own research, anecdotally and more generally, about the problems they're seeing coming through their doors—some of those are mentioned in the report as well—in addition to the research that was undertaken by five Members in this place. Jane Hutt was one of them, and Mick Antoniw and Jayne Bryant—the three that are in the Chamber now. That research matters, highlighting the challenge that we have, the scale of it, and the need for not just a policy response, but a practical one too. So, as I've said on a number of occasions, I actually expect to come back to this place to update Members on the work of that group and the concrete action that we expect to be able to take here in Wales.