§ 4. Mr. Jeff Ennis (Barnsley, East and Mexborough)What steps his Department is taking to tackle racism in sport. [87200]
§ The Minister for Sport (Mr. Tony Banks)Racism is a blight that impacts on all sports. Last year the football task force published its report "Eliminating Racism from Football". I subsequently asked the football authorities to consider how they could implement the recommendations. This has been a good start, but we must ensure that the 5 problem is tackled by all sports. To that end I have written to the governing bodies of cricket, tennis, athletics, rugby union and rugby league to ask them how the problems can be addressed within their sports. Once I have all their proposals, I intend to call a meeting with those governing bodies, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Local Government Association to discuss new initiatives to combat the evil of racism in sport.
§ Mr. EnnisI thank my hon. Friend for his reply and congratulate the Government on their swift action to try to stamp out the insidious practice of racist chanting, particularly at football matches. Does my hon. Friend agree that in future he needs to inform football clubs before the start of the new football season—and the stewards employed by those clubs—of the changes that will come into practice in the near future?
§ Mr. BanksYes, I do indeed agree. The relevant legislation is before the other place, which demonstrates how swift we were to act on the recommendations of the football task force that racist chants by an individual should become an offence, as is the case with collective chanting. All the football clubs have made good progress in dealing with racism and hooliganism inside their grounds, but this campaign must be continuous. Slogans placed in programmes and around the perimeters of grounds about keeping racism out are not of themselves sufficient. The campaigns must be proactive. The House can be assured that the Government will continue to have discussions with and use our influence to put pressure on the governing bodies. They take the issue seriously, but we want to help them to drive out the cancer of racism from sport.
§ Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)Does the Minister share the view that the England cricket selectors are themselves failing adequately to recognise the talents of non-white players? If he does, with what speed does he expect progress to be made in that matter?
§ Mr. BanksThe hon. Gentleman raises a most interesting point. One of the lessons that we must learn from the world cup is the enormous fervour and enthusiasm for cricket among our Asian communities. As I have said before, English cricket will be transformed, as English football was transformed, the more that the ethnic minorities in our country become involved in those sports. For example, the appointment of Nasser Hussain is a good step forward. The cricket authority—the England and Wales Cricket Board—is aware of the need to do far more in the Asian communities to scout for talent, to nurture that talent and to get it through the county structures and into the English team. I know that I can always count on the support of the hon. Gentleman in campaigns of that sort.