COMMONS AMENDMENT (Hansard, 2 November 1989)

§ Lord Hesketh
My Lords, I beg to move that this House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 43.
The purpose of Amendment No. 43, and of Amendment No. 33, which has already been dealt with, is to enable the Secretary of State to invite the licensing authority to make recommendations about the replacement of standing accommodation with seating at grounds staging designated football matches. The Secretary of State can then decide to direct the licensing authority to make requirements about seating a condition of the licence for the club or clubs concerned, subject to parliamentary approval.
The intention is not to impose all-seater stadia throughout the Football League but rather, where appropriate, to ensure that the seating capacity is increased so that spectators can enjoy a high level of comfort and safety at football matches.
Each direction by the Secretary of State in respect of a club or group of clubs will be subject to specific parliamentary approval. I beg to move.

§ Lord Northfield
My Lords, I should like simply to ask a question about this important new clause. I should like an assurance from the noble Lord that very careful consultation will take place with the owners of the grounds and the clubs concerned. It is not simply a matter of ordering seats; there is a problem of paying for them. If the power were used at all unreasonably some clubs would have to fold immediately. They could not afford the degree of seating that the Secretary of State might try to impose.
I am aware that grants are available from various funds to help with the cost of seating. Again, it would be useful to hear from the Minister whether there has been consultation about the possibility of increased availability of grants for the cost of such seating. Clubs need to know to what extent they will have to meet those costs, which will mean a considerable change to their profit and loss accounts and capital statements at the end of the year.
It is a very important change indeed. I hope that the noble Lord will give an assurance on the two points that I have raised —namely, consultation with 410 the clubs concerned and the possibility of increased availability of grants to meet the necessary costs.

§ Lord Hesketh
My Lords, I can certainly provide the answer that the noble Lord, Lord Northfield, requires in respect to his first point. Of course there has to be consultation. We cannot possibly decide to impose requirements on football grounds without consultation.
I fear that it will not come as a surprise to the noble Lord that I cannot give him a cast-iron guarantee about grants.

§ Lord Northfield
My Lords, before the noble Lord sits down I should like to say that I did not ask for a cast-iron guarantee. I asked whether the Government would look at the whole issue of the availability of grants to see whether there was some possibility of increasing them, particularly for clubs which will find the burden crippling.

§ Lord Hesketh
My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Northfield, will be aware, the Government's commitment is concerned mainly with safety. We have not made any commitment towards providing further financial assistance.