To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reconstitute the Bookmakers Committee. [6135]

After careful consideration, we have decided to implement the proposals for reconstituting the Bookmakers Committee previously consulted on.I have today made regulations under section 26 of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 which will come into force on 24 July.We consider that the new make-up of the Committee strikes a reasonable balance between the different bookmaking interests.The Committee will continue to consist of 12 members. The main change is to give representation to a new body, the British Betting Office Association, which will be invited to appoint two members to the Committee.The Betting Office Licensees Association (which previously appointed five members) is to appoint six members of the Committee, as a consequence of its merger with the National Sporting League (which previously appointed one member).The National Association of Bookmakers is to appoint three members of the Committee (previously five): and the Scottish Starting Price (SP) Bookmakers Association will continue to appoint one member.We will keep the position under review.