§ Mr. Wheelerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be in a position to designate under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 the stadia of clubs in divisions 3 and 4 of the Football League and clubs in divisions I and II of the Rugby League.
§ Mr. BrittanThe necessary orders were laid before the House on Friday 19 July to designate 36 Football League stadia and 22 stadia used by Rugby League clubs with effect from 9 August. Their effect will be to require the clubs in all cases to apply for safety certificates from the appropriate local authorities. Until such time as certificates are issued the clubs will be free to use the grounds as they are. However, I imagine that the certificating authorities will wish on this occasion to move quickly to issue certificates, even if initially the certificates are of a provisional character, and to operate so as to limit spectator numbers where necessary in order to minimise the necessity for immediate or expensive building works.