To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will commission research into the impact on small seaside town businesses of restricting the number of fruit machines to four per venue and halving the minimum stake for the £500 jackpot. (190658)

[holding answer 3 March 2008]: The Gambling Act, which came into force on 1 September 2007, introduced a range of measures designed to assist the gaming machine industry. For the first time adult gaming centres can offer up to four category B3 machines with a £1 stake and a £500 prize.

The Government have asked the Gambling Commission to prioritise its research into the impact of high stake, high prize gaming machines.

Research into arcades based in small seaside towns would have little value since adult gaming centres are based in a wide range of locations across the country.