OFFSHORE BETTING OPERATORS

Early day motion 1884, tabled 14 July 2009 by Alan Meale (Labour). Signed by 36 members.

That this House is aware that UK betting industries companies currently are obliged to pay a gross profits tax of 15 per cent. corporation tax, value added tax on their input costs and a 10 per cent. contribution towards the horseracing levy, and that in contrast offshore operators currently allowed to trade in the UK market are only paying around 3.5 per cent., thus giving them a significant competitive advantage over UK-based companies; notes that this has already led to job losses in British businesses caused not least by such offshore operators using their competitive advantage to promote aggressively and extend their services, thereby creating extremely difficult trading environments for disadvantaged UK operators who pay their dues; and calls on the Government to take action immediately to stop such unfair competition, which neither helps the British taxpayer nor the industry in which it operates.

Signatures by party: Labour 24, Liberal Democrat 7, Conservative 2, Independent 1, Scottish National Party 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.