HL Deb 06 July 1987 vol 488 cc453-4
Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they consider that any action is now necessary to forestall violence at cricket matches.

The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, yes. The Test and County Cricket Board has proposed a series of useful measures which have been accepted by the authorities responsible for our Test Match grounds.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for that reply. Does he accept that the recent incident was most unusual, and does he agree that it would be a setback for the game, with its special character and tempo, if spectators had to be marshalled or segregated? Will the Government do their best nonetheless to discourage the invasion of pitches through misplaced enthusiasm, although there was little reason for such exuberance early today from British supporters at the end of the Test Match?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I agree with my noble friend that that was an unfortunate incident and we must try to see that it is prevented in the future. I very much hope that the agreement which was reached at a meeting which was chaired by the Test and County Cricket Board but which included also the police, the Government and indeed the Pakistani Embassy will lead now to an improvement.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, I am sure that the Minister will agree that that was a one-off situation which we are hoping will not be repeated. Can he tell us what consultations have been taking place between the cricket and other authorities in order to pool their experience of these and other matters? Does not the Minister also acknowledge that ready accessibility to alcohol very often has a great deal to do with the violence? The Government perhaps should reflect very much on their plans to extend drinking hours.

Lord Belstead

My Lords, as regards consultation, I feel sure that the Test and County Cricket Board has been in touch with other people in the sporting world and has looked at what other sports have been doing. This is a game with a distinctive character. The parties that I mentioned were at the meeting. Indeed, alcohol was one of the matters that was discussed. It was agreed that alcoho consumption at cricket matches will need to be watched closely and that stewards will deny entry to people with excessive supplies of alcohol.

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