Industry News
U.K. Government Reviving Plan for Casinos in Manchester
Approximately 3,000 jobs will be created by the project, according to Richard Caborn, the Blair administration's gambling minister. The plans are in the works now.
"We have not got a final position on it at present," said Caborn. "We want the 17 casinos determined by the Casino Advisory Panel."
The Casino Advisory Panel, an independent group of experts appointed by Parliament, recommended Manchester as the site of Britain's first super-casino in January.
The plan was dealt a minor setback when the House of Lords decided last week not to accept the specifics of the first proposal, said Caborn. "We are still considering what the next step will be," said Caborn.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is apparently looking to find a way of locating the "super-casinos "in both Manchester and main rival Blackpool, England, as a way to assuage the concerns of the House of Lords.
The proposal was put before both Houses of Parliament in March as part of a "package" that also included 16 other casinos across the U.K.
The House of Commons agreed - but the Lords voted the move down by just three votes, said Caborn.
*Plans Not Derailed*
Jowell said that the plans for Manchester remain very much "alive," and Blair pledged to "find a way of putting it right." But Caborn, asked if the Lords could be allowed to overrule the elected Commons, said: "They can, and they have done it." This was something of a surprise to the Labor Party, which has headed the government for 10 years in the U.K. "There was an agreement it had to go through both Houses," said Caborn. "This is not just about the super-casinos but the whole question of gambling."As for the new legislative plan for casinos, Caborn said, "We just have to go back and see what we can do."
There are concerns that the Manchester bid could be in jeopardy if the debate is allowed to continue on beyond Blair's departure as Prime Minister on June 27.
Presumptive Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, is behind the project, and has said: "I voted for it and I want to see it go through."
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