§ 45. Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the incidence of football hooliganism at Scottish football grounds.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI am encouraged by a continuing decline in hooliganism at Scottish football grounds. Since the Government took powers under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 1980 to ban alcohol at designated sporting events, there has been a 55 per cent. reduction in arrests at Scottish football grounds, despite a 70 per cent. increase in attendances over the same period. Scottish football supporters also continue to behave well abroad and I note that with approximately 20,000 Scottish supporters in Italy for the World Cup there were no incidents and no arrests involving Scottish supporters.