Bingo clubs hailed by MPs

Welsh and Scottish parties back bingo

Political parties in Wales and Scotland have acknowledged the important role that bingo plays in local communities.

Hywel Williams, children, schools and families spokesman for Plaid Cymru, spoke out on behalf of the popular numbers game earlier this month, reports politics.co.uk.

"The bingo industry has a great social role to contribute in our communities and we have to do as much as possible to support the sector," he said.

It was a similar story north of the border.

Stewart Hosie, Treasury spokesman for the Scottish National Party, declared that people should not underestimate the importance of bingo clubs.

"They provide a safe and friendly environment for the whole community but especially older people to meet and socialise," he explained.

These comments were made in the wake of the chancellor's announcement that bingo club duty would be reduced.

Alistair Darling stated in his pre-budget report that gross profit tax on bingo clubs would be cut from 22 per cent to 20 per cent next April.

However, the rate stood at just 15 per cent earlier this year in line with other gaming activities such as online bingo, internet casinos and sports betting.

Both Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party welcomed the recent cut but argued that it did not go far enough.

Mr Williams criticised what he saw as an "unfair taxation level" while Mr Hosie railed against the "harsh treatment" for British bingo clubs.

Buckingham Bingo is a prominent member of I'm Backing Bingo.

The campaign group, supported by many leading bingo club operators, aims to convince the government to return gross profit taxation to 15 per cent.

Bingo clubs hailed by MPs

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