The Government's Response
4. The Government's response was published on 14th
June 2004.[4] As well as
responding to the recommendations the Committee had made, the
response included a Joint ODPM-DCMS Statement on Casinos. In our
original report we were critical of the lack of clarity on the
definition and planning policy regarding the largest casinos and
the lack of joint working by ODPM and DCMS. We therefore welcome
the Joint ODPM-DCMS Statement and the attempt the two departments
have made in working together to resolve this complex issue. Regrettably,
however, we do think that a number of key issues remain unresolved.
This is complicated by the fact that the policy objectives of
the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister in this area are inconsistent. Lord
McIntosh of Haringey articulated his Department's policy aim as
being to reduce the number of premises that can have Category
A machines, to "limit the accessibility of jackpot machines".[5]
We support this objective and believe that the Government is right
to proceed with caution. However, as is explored in our report,
this objective conflicts with the objectives underlying the Office
of the Deputy Prime Minister's approach to planning and cannot
be delivered through a policy designed to focus developments of
the scale and significance of regional casinos in town
centre areas and potentially in mixed use facilities. The Committee
is disappointed that such a conflict remains unresolved at this
late stage of the policy debate. We appreciate that the objectives
underlying the planning system are valid and central to the work
of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. However, in this case
we believe that the policy aim as expressed by Lord McIntosh of
Haringey is central to the Government's determination to protect
children and the vulnerable, which, as a core objective of the
Gambling Commission, must take priority.
5. While further work is needed to resolve the
conflicting objectives of the Department for Culture, Media and
Sport and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister we do not believe
that this should delay the introduction of the Bill to Parliament.
We maintain the view expressed in our original report that the
legislation is necessary and urgent and urge the Department of
Culture, Media and Sport and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
to work together to resolve the outstanding issues at the earliest
opportunity.
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