The DCMS Committee has today confirmed Damian Green as Acting Chair ahead of a significant period in the history of the panel and gambling in the UK.
The Conservative MP for Ashford assumes the reins after Julian Knight (Conservative MP for Solihull) recused himself from Parliament last month to resolve sexual harassment complaints made against him to the Metropolitan Police.
One of his first official tasks is likely to be the organisation of an impending inquiry into the UK Government’s approach to the regulation of gambling and lotteries, which was announced in December.
Commenting on his ascension within the Committee, Green said: “This year will undoubtedly bring with it some major policy challenges in the world of DCMS, with online safety, the future of public service broadcasting, sports governance and gambling all likely to feature high up on the agenda.
“The Committee will continue the important work it has been doing asking the right questions and scrutinising the approach and decisions of the Government and others.”
The DCMS Committee’s inquiry into gambling regulation will look at the scale of gambling-related harm in the UK, what the government should do about it and how a regulatory regime can best adapt to new forms of online gambling.
Last month, the Select Committee called for any evidence to help aid them in their analysis, with a deadline of Feb 10.
