Yesterday in the commons, the issue over bingo taxation was raised again when conservative MP for South Staffordshire asked Sarah McCarthy if she would like to go down in history as Miss Killjoy. McCarthy Fry responded by stating "I do not wish to go down in history as Miss Killjoy and I certainly do not think that is my function or what I am doing in this instance".

Bob Spink, MP for Castle Point, instigated the initial questions in the commons relating to Bingo. He opened up with "What recent discussions has been had with bingo operators on the effects on them of the taxation regime for bingo clubs"

Sarah McCarthy-Fry stated the treasury were in constant dialogue with members of the bingo industry and she had a meeting on this subject just two weeks ago but still awaiting on some figures. She went on to say that the figures are under constant review in the pre budget report and the budget.

Jeff Ennis, Labour MP reminded the house that bingo taxation had indeed decreased from an effective tax rate of 35 percent in 2003. However this is a little misleading as this is widely disputed amongst the bingo operators, the tax was on customers at 10 percent of stake and not 35 percent on operators profits. The outrage from the bingo industry came when Bingo clubs were now faced with having to pay more tax than they did last year whilst the Government claim they have helped the industry.

The Bingo Association has 8 independent operators along with Gala Bingo and Rank (Mecca Bingo). Together industry representatives have supplied and gone through the figures in detail with the Treasury and yet they repeatedly state in Parliament that they are still awaiting these figures much to the bemusement of the bingo industry.

Meanwhile Yvette Cooper the Minister for work and Pensions has written to the Treasury to ask for further exploration into the new tax regime after a meeting with her local Ritz Bingo club in Castleford.