Part of 2. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:50 pm on 3 July 2019.
Minister, thank you for that answer. There is growing recognition across the whole of the UK and further afield of the epidemic emerging of gambling addiction, partly as a result of the massive expansion of online gambling. And it was at least encouraging to notice that within NHS England, 14 clinics are being set up with a view to providing addiction advice, but what is noticeable is, of course, that is partly funded, I understand, by the rather meagre voluntary contributions from the gambling industry itself via the Gambling Commission. I was wondering what steps may have been taken or could be taken by the Welsh Government to ensure that there is proper funding from those funds that are raised in Wales for gambling support, and whether you have any plans to meet with or to approach the Gambling Commission to ensure that, within Wales, there is equal support and provision of this much-needed area of gambling addiction support.