§ 23. Mr. ColemanTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will assess the advantages of appointing an industry regulator to monitor and regulate the activities of professional football clubs in the United Kingdom. [50791]
§ Mr. BanksMy personal preference is for the football authorities to get their own house in order. I have been heartened by the positive response The Football Association has made to Sir John Smith's report on the way football regulates its financial affairs and I will be watching how this is taken forward. I will be considering carefully the forthcoming Task Force report on the commercial aspects of the game.