The petition of residents of the constituency of Beckenham and Penge,
Declares that a 24-hours licence for Admiral Casino on Westow Hill in Crystal Palace would damage the character of the area, fuel anti-social behaviour and increase gambling harms for vulnerable people.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage Croydon Council to ensure that Admiral Casino on Westow Hill in Crystal Palace is not granted a 24-hours licence.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Liam Conlon, Official Report, 25 February 2026; Vol. 781, c. 433.]
[P003165]
Observations from the Minister for Museums, Heritage and Gambling, Baroness Twycross: I note Admiral Casino’s application for a 24-hour licence in Westow Hill in Crystal Palace, and I recognise the concerns of the residents of Beckenham and Penge. Ultimately, it is for Croydon council to consider whether the application is compatible with the licensing objectives and its statement of licensing principles. Local authorities can make use of a range of existing powers to manage gambling in their areas, both under the planning system and as licensing authorities under the Gambling Act 2005. They can also consider the profile of the area and potential risks, as well as the views of local people, when coming to licensing decisions.
As the Minister for Gambling, I recognise the strength of feeling on the licensing of high street gambling venues. As such, the Government have amended the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to introduce gambling impact assessments—formerly referred to as cumulative impact assessments. GIAs will bolster existing local authority powers and strengthen their ability to manage gambling premises in their areas. The implementation date will be confirmed in due course.
Education
Education on methanol poisoning
The petition of residents of the constituency of Orpington,
Declares that bootleg alcohol poses a considerable danger to tourists and has, tragically, resulted in deaths in countries including Laos, Turkey and Vietnam.
The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to ensure that children and young people are taught about the dangers of consuming bootleg alcohol as part of the PSHE or biology curriculum in schools.
And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Gareth Bacon, Official Report, 29 January 2026; Vol. 779, c. 1136.]
[P003160]
Observations from the Minister for School Standards (Georgia Gould): The tragic deaths caused by methanol poisoning are a reminder of the risks that young people can face, and they reinforce the Department’s commitment to helping ensure that all young people are equipped with the knowledge they need to stay safe, including in relation to alcohol.
The statutory guidance for health education requires all pupils in state-maintained schools to be taught the facts about legal and illegal harmful substances and the associated risks to physical and mental wellbeing, including smoking, alcohol use and drug taking.
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The revised RSHE—relationships, sex and health education—statutory guidance, published on 15 July 2025, states that by the end of secondary school, pupils should understand how to increase personal safety while drinking alcohol, including how to decrease the risks of having a drink spiked or of poisoning from potentially fatal substances such as methanol. The guidance can be found here:
Pupils should be taught that there are some legal substances that people sometimes misuse and that any substance used for purposes other than those intended can be dangerous and could even cause death. This complements content about substances within the national curriculum for science.