§ 2.35 p.m.
§ Lord BARNBYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, with regard to the Island of Antigua, West Indies, it is intended that a franchise be granted for the establishment of a casino on the Island; and if so, is the ultimate beneficiary of the operation of this franchise to be in the hands of Antigua citizens or aliens.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE, COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS OFFICE (THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE)My Lords, I understand that as part of a general attempt to encourage tourism in the island, the Antigua Government have licensed a group, consisting of American and Antiguan interests, to establish a casino there, for a trial period of one year only, provided they construct a hundred bedroom hotel by 1st October, 1963. The renewal of the casino licence would be subject to the satisfactory operation of this casino during the year and, if renewed, in subsequent years.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, while it is to be assumed that the Colonial Office have power to veto, is it to be understood in this matter that the establishment of a casino, with its danger of the destruction of the amenities of the island, has the full support of Her Majesty's Government? Secondly, do they really think that the licence for one year would be the sort of basis on which any commercial venture would be likely to be established?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, the licence has been granted on the basis of one year. I understand that the idea of a casino is to increase the amenities of the island and that it has the full support of the Antigua Government, which, as my noble friend will know, has a very large measure of self-government.
VISCOUNT ST. DAVIDSMy Lords, can the noble Duke inform the House whether, before this licence was granted, the various religious bodies on the island were consulted? As the noble Duke may know, they are in considerable strength, particularly the Nonconformists, and they may not have approved of this. Can the noble Duke see to it that, before this licence is extended, at least these various bodies shall be consulted?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I am aware that the religious authorities in the island have expressed their view. Indeed, they made a submission to Her Majesty The Queen on this subject. Due weight has been given to their protests, and in view of the feeling of the Government of the island it would be decided to disregard this protest. I am quite certain that before the licence is renewed, due weight will be given to any further protest they should make.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, would the noble Duke answer the point of the question that I made? In his penultimate reply, he mentioned that the island has self-government. Is it to be understood from this that Her Majesty's Government have renounced the power of veto?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I hope and believe that I said, "a large measure of self-government".
§ LORD WALSTONMy Lords, while not wishing to pass any judgment on the merits or demerits of gambling in casinos, 639 is the noble Duke satisfied that the authorities in the island are able, and have powers, to prevent the influx of some of the undesirable elements who occasionally, I am told, come in the train of gambling, on the other side of the Atlantic if not on this side?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I am quite satisfied that the Antigua Government have given due weight to such dangers as this. No doubt one of the reasons why a licence is granted for one year only is to see whether any of the eventualities which the noble Lord has mentioned takes place.
§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, does the noble Duke think, in the event of the hotel being built parallel to the issue of a licence for one year, that the licence is going to be withdrawn after that year? Once the licence is related to the building of the hotel, does that not make it almost impossible to withdraw the licence?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I think it fair to say that this licence has been granted for one year, subject to the building of an hotel of 100 bedrooms. Should the casino be carried on in undesirable fashion, the promoters will lose their licence. That is a risk the promoters of the scheme must take. They are quite aware of the risk involved.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, could the noble Duke indicate at what point in the island the casion is to be built? Are the Government satisfied that that is the point in the island in which it is most desirable that gambling should be instituted?
§ LORD BARNBYCorrect.
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I am afraid that I cannot answer that question, but I would say this. Her Majesty's Government believe in devolving responsibility for government on their colonial territories, and it would seem to me a gross breach in this principle if we were to interfere too much in the affairs of the Antigua Government. This is their decision, one which they are fully entitled to take, and one which their 640 Government has taken; and I think it would be most unbecoming for us to interfere.
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, could the noble Duke say if any regulation has been laid down as to what games of chance are to entertain visitors to the casino?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I am afraid that I cannot reassure my noble friend as to what particular games have, or have not, been arranged for, but having frequented a casino in my time, I can have a fairly shrewd guess.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, will the Government look a little nearer at hand, where casinos appear to be springing up in this country, greatly to the shock of a great many citizens who voted for the Betting and Gaming Bill thinking that such things would be impossible?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, I am sure that I have the House with me when I say that this is an entirely different question.
§ LORD HENDERSONMy Lords, can the noble Duke say who will pay the guests' bills if they lose all their money at the casino?
THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, one thing I can say is that Her Majesty's Government certainly will not.