Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many invitations they have made to local authorities to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007; when any such invitations were made; and what the outcome of each invitation was.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The government has issued two invitations to local authorities to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. One in 2008, that resulted in a shortlist of 199 proposals and one in 2010. The 2010 invitation remains open. The department does not hold data on the total number of proposals made since 2010, or on the ultimate outcome of these proposals.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the findings of Raffaello Rossi, Edoardo Tozzi and Agnes Nairn published in Psychology and Marketing on 7 March, what assessment they have made of the adequacy of gambling protections for children, including the extent to which gambling content marketing is (1) appealing to children, (2) obviously identifiable as advertising, and (3) effectively countered by currently used educational interventions.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The government notes the findings of Raffaello Rossi, Edoardo Tozzi and Agnes Nairn published in Psychology and Marketing on 7 March. We remain committed to protecting children and young people from gambling related harm.

Operators must ensure that advertising is not targeted at children. In October 2025, the Advertising Standards Authority updated their guidance to rule that personalities or influencers with under-18s social media followings totalling at least 100,000 across all platforms is indicative of strong appeal to children and young people, and gambling advertisements cannot be promoted through these channels. We continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders on gambling protections for children.

As part of the Statutory Gambling Levy, the Office for Health, Inequalities and Disparity (OHID, are developing a robust spread of measures of gambling harm prevention activity, and are utilising a ‘test and learn’ approach to prevention activity such as gambling education.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 17 March (HL15103), which gambling operators reported regulatory investigations or findings into other activities in other jurisdictions in (1) 2021–22, (2) 2022–23, (3) 2023–24, and (4) 2024–25.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The information requested relating to gambling operators and their overseas operators could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating gambling in Great Britain. It is for operators to satisfy themselves that they are acting in a lawful manner in other jurisdictions and for authorities in those jurisdictions to investigate if they are not.

The compliance with legal requirements in overseas jurisdictions is a question for the respective judicial authorities to investigate if operators are not compliant. Where a licensee is found to be operating illegally, the Commission may consider their suitability to hold a licence to offer gambling services in Great Britain.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 17 March (HL15103), which gambling operators have been found to be operating illegally since 2020; and whether the licences of those operators to offer gambling services in Britain have been withdrawn.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The information requested relating to gambling operators and their overseas operators could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating gambling in Great Britain. It is for operators to satisfy themselves that they are acting in a lawful manner in other jurisdictions and for authorities in those jurisdictions to investigate if they are not.

The compliance with legal requirements in overseas jurisdictions is a question for the respective judicial authorities to investigate if operators are not compliant. Where a licensee is found to be operating illegally, the Commission may consider their suitability to hold a licence to offer gambling services in Great Britain.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 17 March (HL15103), which gambling operators have substantial customer bases outside of Britain; and in which jurisdictions those customer bases are.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The information requested relating to gambling operators and their overseas operators could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating gambling in Great Britain. It is for operators to satisfy themselves that they are acting in a lawful manner in other jurisdictions and for authorities in those jurisdictions to investigate if they are not.

The compliance with legal requirements in overseas jurisdictions is a question for the respective judicial authorities to investigate if operators are not compliant. Where a licensee is found to be operating illegally, the Commission may consider their suitability to hold a licence to offer gambling services in Great Britain.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 17 March (HL15103), what criteria they expect gambling operators to use to satisfy themselves that they are acting in a lawful manner in other jurisdictions.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The information requested relating to gambling operators and their overseas operators could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The Gambling Commission is responsible for regulating gambling in Great Britain. It is for operators to satisfy themselves that they are acting in a lawful manner in other jurisdictions and for authorities in those jurisdictions to investigate if they are not.

The compliance with legal requirements in overseas jurisdictions is a question for the respective judicial authorities to investigate if operators are not compliant. Where a licensee is found to be operating illegally, the Commission may consider their suitability to hold a licence to offer gambling services in Great Britain.

Found: SW1H 9AJ OFFICIAL Lord Timpson Minister of State for Justice The Rt Hon. the Lord Foster of Bath

Found: Deputy Prime Minister Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice THE RT HON THE LORD FOSTER OF BATH

Found: SW1H 9AJ OFFICIAL Lord Timpson Minister of State for Justice The Rt Hon The Lord Foster of Bath

Found: France London SW1H 9AJ OFFICIAL Lord Timpson Minister of State for Justice The Rt Hon The Lord Foster of Bath