§ Sir J. Smedley Crookeasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the necessity for munition workers and others to have reasonable recreation to fit them for their arduous work, he will consider the advisability of relaxing the regulations so as to allow football matches, with spectators, to be played on Saturday afternoons in Birmingham and elsewhere, even if the attendance at the matches has to be limited?
§ Sir J. AndersonThere is no restriction on the holding of football matches, except that a limitation is placed on the number of spectators when matches are played in evacuation areas, and that chief constables are empowered to prohibit the use of any ground, if they consider that any undue risk is involved. As regards football matches in Birmingham, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Yardley (Mr. Salt) on the 15th November, to which I cannot add at present.