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Gambling Act 2005 (Exclusion of Children from Track Areas) Order 2007

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 4:32 pm on 3 May 2007.

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Photo of Lord Lee of Trafford Lord Lee of Trafford Spokesperson in the Lords (Tourism), Culture, Media & Sport, Spokesperson in the Lords, Trade & Industry 4:32, 3 May 2007

My Lords, we on these Benches are happy to give broad support to the two orders. The order dealing with the exclusion of children from track areas is a common-sense measure, reflecting the reality of children attending track events, while not engaging in gambling activities from which they remain, rightly, prohibited. We fully support it.

The order dealing with mandatory and default conditions covers a much broader canvas, parts of which are specialist and technical in nature. It refers to the original proposal to create a new generation of casinos—one regional, eight large and eight small. The order setting out the specific geographical locations was rejected by your Lordships' House on 28 March. Had the Government not been so obstinate and produced separate orders, there is little doubt that the large and the small package would have been approved. There is now considerable uncertainty about the Government's intentions. Could the Minister indicate whether and when any new orders are likely? Indeed, it is somewhat ironic that we are debating this order today without knowing whether there will be any new casinos at all.

In addition, since the order was debated in Another place on 26 March, the British Casino Association has obtained the High Court's permission for a judicial review on the possible competitive disadvantages to existing casinos, as compared with the new generation of casinos, which the Government intended. Am I correct in assuming that the Government now have to await the outcome of the judicial review before proceeding? Additionally, as we understand it, there are nine ongoing consultations on many elements of the Gambling Act 2005. Does that mean that we will be asked to scrutinise many more orders prior to the Act coming into force on 1 September 2007? Is there an up-to-date implementation plan that could be placed in the library? The existing one on the DCMS website appears somewhat out of date.

Having said all that, and having raised certain points, we confirm our broad support for the order, and I look forward to the Minister's response.

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