Have a look at the following link: http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/pdf/GCP(10)25.pdf
Open the second document:
GCP(09)99 Public affairs support
Look at the bits in red. I am guessing these were due to be censored to avoid them being published under the Freedom Of Information Act.
Bottom line; the Gambling Commission bleat on about protecting the vulnerable etc. In reality they were spending 70k a year of licence fee money on hiring slick public affairs consultants Grayling to carry out vital work such as "key journalistic story monitoring" until recently. Doubtless every betting shop and addicted gambler would be facing closure without this vital work.
And here's the best bit - the Gambling Commission reveal how valuable they themselves thought all these consultants were being in their own internal documents; they describe the contract with the consultants as an "expenive commodity"...that has "not been performing well recently".
It's all a far cry from the excellent value for money which chief exec Jenny Williams - whose salary far exceeds the prime minister's excluding pension contributions I believe - insists she is delivering to the beleagured betting industry isn't it?
Axe the Gambling Commission...their offices in Victoria Square Birmingham are like some sort of marble palace. Couldn't it be rented out to a company that made something useful? The Commission's job used to be performed by charming magistrates for 90% less cost. Please put this Quango out of its misery...