§ Baroness Hanhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the North Greenwich Peninsula, the Millennium Dome, or the waterfront complex have been discussed or considered as potential sites for a regional or large casino within the meaning of Section 7(5) of the Gambling Bill: [HL1472]
Whether Anschutz Entertainment, Meridian Delta Limited, or any agent or company associated with those companies, has made representations to the Government about the Gambling Bill; [HL1473]
Whether they are aware of any proposals that a casino should be situated in the Millennium Dome, the waterfront complex or the North Greenwich Peninsula after 2007; and [HL1474]
Whether the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has discussed gambling or gaming policy with representatives of Anschutz Entertainment, Meridian Delta Limited, or any agent or company associated with those companies. [HL1475]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has had no such discussions. The named companies have made no representations about the Gambling Bill, although the former has in the past sought information about it. Ministers in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister have had regular meetings with representatives of the named companies concerning the Greenwich Peninsula developments and associated commercial transaction; but these have not involved any substantive discussion of the Gambling Bill.
We are aware of no representations from associated companies, other than those from Kerzner International, whom I or my right honourable friend the Minister for Sport and Tourism (Richard Caborn) and officials in DCMS have met, just as we have with many other parties interested in the Gambling Bill.
We understand that Kerzner has entered into an agreement with Anschutz Entertainment Group to build and operate a hotel on land adjacent to the Dome site and to provide a regional casino at the Dome site 43WA if the Gambling Bill is enacted, if Greenwich is designated as an area in which a premises licence for such a casino may be awarded by the local authority, if the company obtains the necessary operating and premises licences, and subject to any planning consent that may be required.
We have made it clear that we cannot anticipate decisions about the designation of the areas suitable for regional, large or small casinos, which will be taken on the basis of advice from an independent expert panel which has not yet been appointed; and that under the Bill it will be for the local authority to decide whether or not any casinos may be established in its licensing area, and, if so, to consider applications for premises licences on their individual merits under the procedures set out in the Bill.