asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government have any plans to impose a legal duty upon owners of amusement arcades to prohibit persons under the age of 16 years from entering.

We have begun a research project examining the extent of the use which young people make of amusement machines in arcades and other places, whether there are signs that they become addicted to playing the machines found there and whether there is evidence of machines leading to anti-social behaviour or criminal behaviour. It is hoped that this and other research, will be completed by early next year. We will then take a view on whether there should be a change in the law.