Lord Wilson of Sedgefield (Lab)

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Foster, for his Amendments 142 and 185E. I assure him that the Government intend to introduce cumulative impact assessments for gambling licensing when parliamentary time allows. This will strengthen local authorities’ tools to influence the location and density of gambling outlets. Local authorities have a range of existing powers and tools in relation to gambling premises, such as specifying local risks that operators must take steps to mitigate and attaching conditions to premises’ licences. The Government are also of the view that the most appropriate body to assess the cumulative impact of licensed gambling premises is the local licensing authority, rather than the planning authority. My concern is that the noble Lord’s amendment would risk creating inconsistencies in the approaches of local authorities’ planning policies and the licensing authority’s statement of licensing principles. Local authorities already have the power to require health impact assessments for planning applications. Introducing health impact assessments in spatial development strategies would be duplicative. Spatial development strategies have been introduced through this Bill to improve planning across local planning authorities and to ensure that we are sustainably planning to meet the nation’s development needs. By setting out a high-level spatial strategy and addressing challenging cross-boundary issues, SDSs will make the production of local plans more straightforward and quicker to add to what are, in essence, more localised issues. Although SDSs are not the right place for this matter to be considered, the planning system allows for local consideration of additional gambling premises, such as a betting office or a casino. National planning policy is already clear that planning policies and decisions should aim to achieve healthy places that enable and support healthy living; local planning authorities are able to put in place appropriate policies that are relevant to their areas in order to support this through their local plans. For the reasons I have set out, I kindly ask the noble Lord to withdraw his amendment.