Examination of Witnesses (Questions 100-102)
OFFICE OF
THE DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER
AND ENGLISH
PARTNERSHIPS
17 JANUARY 2005
Q100 Mr Williams: If you had known
that at the outset would you have regarded it as a plus or a minus?
Mr Walker: It would depend what
the proposal was.
Dame Mavis McDonald: To the extent
that casinos are licensed for operation in this country and there
is a framework within which gambling takes place we would have
been neutral.
Q101 Chairman: Neutral?
Dame Mavis McDonald: As I said,
we have always said that anything that happens in terms of development
of a casino has to fit both within the planning requirements
and the licensing requirements for casinos.
Q102 Chairman: Then it would be a
huge bonus for Anschutz having a casino there, would it not? It
must be.
Dame Mavis McDonald: Perhaps they
are pursuing it because they think it will increase their profits.
Mr Walker: And subsequently our
profits.
Chairman: Unless my colleagues have any
more questions may I thank you, Dame Mavis and Mr Walker, for
coming this afternoon. It has been a very interesting session
and no doubt we will wish to turn in our Report to how we can
ensure maximum benefit for the taxpayer from the site. Thank you
very much.
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