§ 2. Mr. John Carlisleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what his policy towards the Football League proposal to stage matches on a Sunday.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Hector Monro)The decision taken by the Football League is not one in which I have any standing. The question of policy concerning sporting events on a Sunday is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
§ Mr. CarlisleDoes my hon. Friend agree that the staging of matches on Sunday will bring extra revenue to the football clubs and will be of benefit to the players? Does he agree also that it will result in a certain amount of nuisance for the residents around the grounds and extra work for the police? Will he make representations to the Football League and suggest that these games should be the exception rather than the rule, so that we do not see a wholesale switching of games from Saturday to Sunday?
§ Mr. MonroI note what my hon. Friend says. The games are relatively few at the moment. They are confined to a maximum of 6. those that have taken place in Divisions III and IV have been reasonably successful. I agree with my hon. Friend that the Football League should consider carefully the effect on the local environment and on the work load of the police, and the problem of public transport. However, those difficulties can be resolved.
§ Mr. MarksThis is not just a matter for the Football Association and the Football League. There is here a social problem. Does the Minister agree that it is not just a question of Division IV teams increasing their gates from 1,500 to 5,000? In some of the big cities, where the gates are 40,000 and 50,000, the grounds such as Maine Road in Manchester, are in the midst of hundreds of terraced houses, so that there are serious problems on the days on which the matches are played. Will the Minister urge the FA and the Football League to have discussions with local representatives and the people who live near the grounds before action is taken to play games on Sundays in those areas?
§ Mr. MonroI accept what the hon. Member has said. He knows that so far there have been only Division III and IV matches. If there were Division I or II matches, and major games, there would be complications. I shall draw the attention of the Football Association and the Football League to the exchanges that have taken place in the House this afternoon.
§ Mr. StokesDoes my hon. Friend agree that the best thing that people can do on Sunday is to go to church, and after they have done that they can engage in any lawful activity?
§ Mr. MonroI support my hon. Friend's view. Of course, the wish of many people is to go to church and perhaps later go to a football match, but it is a new idea in this country to have these football matches on Sundays, and I think that we shall have to see how it settles down.
§ Mr. Denis HowellDoes the Minister agree that the law on Sunday entertainment is totally unfair as between one leisure activity and another? For example, music and the theatre are lawful, cricket, athletics, golf and Rugby League matches are tolerated, Association Football is experimenting, and racing wishes to come under starter's orders. In these circumstances, will the Minister take action to clear up the confusion and also to do what I believe most hon. Members wish to do, namely, relate the social implications to the sporting considerations, which also are involved?
§ Mr. MonroAs the right hon. Gentleman knows, the interpretation of the Act is for the courts. It has always been considered in the House that a change in the law is a matter for Private Members' legislation, and on the last occasion when such a Bill came before the House in 1974 it did not get a Second Reading.