To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the Casino Impacts Scoping Study; on what date the report (a) was commissioned, (b) was originally scheduled for publication and (c) is expected to be published; and what the cost of producing the report is. (188236)

[holding answer 22 February 2008]: The Scoping Study for a UK Gambling Act, 2005 Impact Assessment Framework was commissioned in May 2006 and scheduled for completion in November 2006.

We did not stipulate a publication date but I expect that it will be published shortly. The cost of producing the study was approximately £50,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 317W, on casinos, how many adult gaming centres are in operation in England and Wales. (188258)

[holding answer 22 February 2008]: No figures are currently available for the number of adult gaming centres (AGCs) or for any other type of licensed gambling premises in operation.

Licensing authorities are responsible for providing information on the number of AGC premises licences they have issued to the Gambling Commission but complete information is not yet available. The Gambling Commission will publish information on the number of AGC premises licences issued by licensing authorities in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008, Official Report, columns 317-18W, on casinos, what assessment has been made of the financial impact of the operation of the Gambling Act 2005 on adult gaming centres in England and Wales since September 2007. (188260)

[holding answer 22 February 2008]: I am currently considering representations that have been made to me by the British Amusement Catering Trades Association (BACTA) and others about what it is claimed has been the financial impact of the Gambling Act 2005 on adult gaming centres. I hope to be able to respond to BACTA’s campaign shortly.