§ 2. Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to the Railways Board to improve the standard of crowd control on British Railways stations when large numbers of people are travelling to football matches and other similar functions.
§ Mr. KnoxIs my right hon. Friend aware that on Saturday, 27th May, in the Central Station, Glasgow, the measures taken to control the long queue of people waiting to catch trains to Mount Florida Station to watch the football international between Scotland and England were totally inadequate, and that it is a miracle that no one was seriously hurt?
§ Mr. PeytonMy hon. Friend has been good enough to call my attention to the 1793 circumstances on the day in question. British Rail is also aware of what happened. It is reviewing its arrangements. I think it would be possible to exaggerate the danger on this occasion.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there was great success in the past football season in controlling hooliganism inside football grounds? One of the results is that hooliganism outside the grounds has got worse, particularly on British Rail. I and other hon. Members have been told of a large number of instances of uncontrolled hooliganism in restaurant cars and other places, which can be very frightening for ordinary, innoncent passengers. Will the right hon. Gentleman please communicate with the British Rail police to see that the good that has been achieved inside grounds is not lost outside and on Britaish Rail?
§ Mr. PeytonMost certainly. Nobody—neither I nor British Rail—would wish to challenge what the hon. Gentleman said.