Lord Foster of Bath (LD)

My Lords, I declare my interest as chairman of Peers for Gambling Reform, and I congratulate the Government Chief Whip on keeping us here to a point at which my hearing aids are telling me that their batteries are flat. I shall move Amendment 142 and particularly speak to Amendment 185E. Given the hour, I will not give the details, but I suspect most noble Lords are aware of the serious concerns about the large number of gambling premises, especially betting shops and adult gaming centres, in so many of our high streets. This is especially so in deprived communities. The NHS Office for Health Improvement and Disparities recently illustrated that the most deprived local authorities have three times as many gambling premises per head of population as the least deprived local authorities. Research shows not only clear links with increased crime but, crucially, with higher levels of gambling harm and the problems that that creates for individuals, their families and their communities. A quick scan of local newspapers and community websites will show that communities right across the country are demanding that their local councils take action to stop this proliferation but, as we have seen in places from Peterborough to Brent and in many others, councils have come up against the stumbling block that is Section 153 of the Gambling Act 2005. This is the so-called “aim to permit” section, under which the default position is that a licensing authority must permit the use of premises for gambling unless there are specific reasons not to do so. Councils that have tried to block new gambling venues have come up against lawyers from wealthy gambling companies and, in most cases, they have lost the battle. Planning authorities need additional powers to regulate the circumstances in which they authorise or reject the use of premises for gambling. Some years ago, we had a similar problem when there was a growth in the number of premises selling alcohol. That problem was solved by coming forward with a solution that allowed the licensing committees of local authorities—having considered that there are already more than enough alcohol licences in a particular area—to publish, after consultation, a document called a cumulative impact assessment, which says, in effect, that enough is enough. It says that, if you are thinking of applying for an alcohol licence in this particular area, do not bother, because there are already enough licensed premises there and the community does not want any more, as it would harm its well-being.