HC Deb 08 May 1991 vol 190 cc488-9W
Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time inspectors are currently in post at the Football Licensing Authority, how many more (i) full-time and (ii) part-time inspectors it is planned to appoint; what stage has been reached in the training of these inspectors; and what timescale is envisaged for the completion of all Football Licensing Authority inspectors' training.

Mr. John Patten

Eight full-time ground safety inspectors are already in post, and one further full-time appointment is expected to be made shortly. No further appointments, either part time or full time, are currently proposed. The initial teacher training programme for the inspectors began on 1 May and will take about one month to complete.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to extend the remit of the Football Licensing Authority to cover all sports grounds designated under the Safety of Sports Ground Act 1975 and all grounds requiring safety certificates or licences under parts III and IV of the Fire Safety and Safety of Places of Sports Act 1987; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

No. The responsibilities of the Football Licensing Authority under the Football Spectators Act 1989 are limited to sports grounds at which designated football matches are played. We have no plans to extend the powers of the authority to other sports grounds.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the introduction of section 13 of the Football Spectators Act 1989.

Mr. John Patten

The Football Spectators Act 1989 (Commencement No. 3) Order 1991 (SI No. 1991/1071 (C 28)) was laid on 1 May, and will bring section 13 of the 1989 Act into force on 3 June 1991. Section 13 empowers the Football Licensing Authority to keep under review the discharge by local authorities of their functions under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 in relation to sports grounds at which designated football matches are played; and subject to consultation with regulatory authorities, to direct local authorities to include terms and conditions in safety certificates. Section 13 also empowers the authority's inspectors to enter and inspect relevant sports grounds and to examine safety certificates and related records, and enables the authority to require local authorities to furnish it with information relating to the discharge of the functions which the Football Licensing Authority is empowered to keep under review.