§ 29. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Fuel and Power what consideration has been given to the banning during the normal working hours of mid-week football and racing during the fuel shortage: and what decision has been reached.
§ Mr. P. Noel-BakerI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Durham, North-West (Mr. Murray) on 23rd January.
§ Mr. DoddsWill my right hon. Friend explain why, if the situation is so serious as to warrant a request to turn out street lights at 11 p.m., or earlier, which has a very bad psychological effect it is unreasonable, in those circumstances, to ask for the banning of mid-week sport during normal working hours for the next few months?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI can only ask the Football Association to postpone cup-ties if I can give them evidence that they materially affect production of coal, and no such evidence exists either for this year or for last year.
§ Major Guy LloydIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the opinion strongly expressed by Sir Patrick Dollan and most widely supported throughout Scotland? Will he do something about it?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI have explained to Sir Patrick the facts on which this policy is based.
§ Mr. DoddsHow does my right hon. Friend expect tens of millions of people to understand the gravity of the situation if this sort of thing is allowed to go on? 1327 Does he know that the President of the Mineworkers' Union would like football matches to take place on Sundays instead of during the week, when they interfere with production?
§ Mr. Noel-BakerI can only repeat that, as far as football is concerned, there is no evidence to show that it adversely affects coal production. Racing is still under consideration. The turning out of lights at night has had a very good psychological effect in helping to persuade patriotic citizens to save electricity and gas.