HL Deb 04 December 1996 vol 576 cc668-70

2.57 p.m.

Lord McNally asked Her Majesty's Government:

What financial and other support to attract the 2006 World Cup to England did the Prime Minister offer at his meeting with the Football Association on 25th November.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the Prime Minister indicated the Government's support in principle for a bid by the Football Association to stage the 2006 World Cup. The Minister for Sport has agreed to host a meeting with the FA on 11th December to take forward discussions. It is too early to talk about costs and funding for the tournament, as the Football Association has also made clear. But for the first time a body has been set up (the UK Sports Council) which is specifically tasked with helping to attract and stage major international sporting events in the UK.

Lord McNally

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer. Is she aware that the team which will play in the 2006 World Cup is at present playing schools' and youth soccer, and that that level of soccer is run on a shoe-string by volunteers? At the meeting on the 11th will Ministers make it clear to the Premier League, the FA, and the Football League that we expect some of the hundreds of millions of pounds now flooding into soccer from TV rights and elsewhere to go to that level of soccer because it is there that the game's future lies?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the Government are fully aware of the need to ensure the continuing strength of football at child level. Both the Premier League and the Football League plan links between their clubs and local schools. In addition, under a voluntary code agreed by the main governing bodies of sport, the football authorities have undertaken to earmark at least 5 per cent. of the fees derived from UK broadcasting sales towards the development of grass roots football. In practice, we expect a far greater percentage to be invested.

Lord Howell

My Lords, will the noble Baroness express to the Prime Minister our appreciation for his support to try to stage the World Cup in this country? We hope that if we do so we shall have the success that we enjoyed in 1966. However, may I draw the noble Baroness's attention to the fact that Mr. Rupert Murdoch seems to be working with Herr Kirch of Germany in a move to televise that World Cup, which would prevent it being broadcast here on terrestrial channels? Herr Kirch hopes to own the rights. That would mean that were Mr. Murdoch to transmit the programmes here he could do so on pay television which would subvert the emphatic opinion of this House and Parliament recently expressed on the Broadcasting Bill. As the European Parliament has recently said that it wants to amend the appropriate directive now going through that body, will the Government kindly consider supporting the European Parliament on this occasion to ensure that terrestrial television provides coverage of the World Cup to every living room in this country?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I am well aware of the great part played by the noble Lord during the last World Cup tournament. As I have said so often, it is a long time since I kicked off for Cambridge United. These are early days to discuss Mr. Murdoch and costs, as I said in my original Answer; but I shall pass the information to the department.

Lord Dean of Beswick

My Lords, is not part of the Question the location of the new national stadium? Does the Minister agree that the International Football Association is on record as saying that it will not come here for a World Cup tournament unless it is played in a London centre? It does not want to go to a provincial city. If that is the case, why are we kept waiting for a statement from the appropriate authority as to where the national stadium will be built?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the 80,000 all-seater English National Stadium, which is to be funded by lottery money, will have been developed by 2006 and will certainly be central to any English bid. The Sports Council is expected to announce by Christmas whether Manchester or Wembley is to be the site for the new stadium.

Lord Donoughue

My Lords, may I point out that as the Labour Party with the FA initiated the bid for Euro '96, we now wholly support all efforts to have the World Cup tournament played here? However, is the Minister aware that for Euro '96 the Government provided only a measly £100,000 to the eight cities which hosted the games and incurred the brunt of the costs? Are the Government prepared to assure the local authorities and those involved in football that they will provide more significant financial support next time?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, to the first part of the noble Lord's question I can say only, "Goody goody two shoes"! As I said in my original Answer, it is too early to talk about costs and funding for the tournament.

Lord Ewing of Kirkford

My Lords, in order to blow the final whistle on this Question, will the Minister share with me the hope that of all the United Kingdom countries which participate in the World Cup in 2006 none will score as many own goals as have this present Government?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, my answer to the noble Lord is, "Boo"!