HC Deb 13 July 2000 vol 353 c1180 7.24 pm
The Parliamentary Secretary, Privy Council Office (Mr. Paddy Tipping)

I beg to move, That, at this day's sitting, as soon as the proceedings on this Motion have been concluded, the Order for the Second Reading of the Football (Disorder) Bill shall be read. I will speak only briefly, as I suspect that the House will want to discuss the substance of the issue in the Second Reading debate that will follow very shortly, if this motion is agreed.

There has been support right across the House for further urgent measures to combat football hooliganism. I am grateful for the advice, ideas and proposals that Members of both Houses have already made. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has made it quite clear that he wishes to proceed by consensus as far as possible. A draft Bill has been available since last Friday. A number of meetings have been held and the Bill has been improved already as a result.

I have suggested that the House will want to make progress quickly on this matter, while at the same time ensuring adequate scrutiny. The Second Reading debate will give us an important opportunity to make judgments on the degree of consensus and support for the measures that we propose. I look forward to that debate.

7.25 pm
Sir Patrick Cormack (South Staffordshire)

The Opposition share the hon. Gentleman's desire to move on to the substantive business as quickly as possible. My right hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone and The Weald (Miss Widdecombe) will, of course, outline the Opposition's position on the Bill with clarity and vigour.

Although we are far from happy about many of the things that have happened over the past week in the background to the Bill, nevertheless we wish the Second Reading debate to begin soon. We wish it to be a thorough debate, and we want the Bill to be properly and carefully scrutinised on Monday.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That, at this day's sitting, as soon as the proceedings on this Motion have been concluded, the Order for the Second Reading of the Football (Disorder) Bill shall be read.