§ Mr. Harry Howarthasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement on the assistance he will give to improve the facilities of those football grounds on which matches in connection with the 1966 World Cup series will be played.
§ Mr. Ron Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what help he has so far given to those grounds in which the 1966 World Cup will be played; and what are his future plans.
118W
§ Mr. Denis HowellThe Government have decided, subject to Parliamentary approval, to make available to the Football Association a sum not exceeding £500,000 towards the cost of the facilities necessary for the Association Football World Cup games in 1966 to be suitably staged. Somewhere between 80 and 90 per cent. of this sum will be spent on permanent improvements: four-fifths of that amount will be paid as a grant and one-fifth will be provided as a loan.
Most of the money will need to be distributed by the Association to the six football clubs on whose grounds World Cup games are to be played, to help with the extension of seating accommodation—some 39,000 additional seats are required—and with the improvement of toilet, restaurant and other facilities. The remainder is to be spent principally on providing for the reception of overseas visitors attending the games at Wembley and elsewhere.
In the latest discussions with the football authorities I understand that something less than this sum is likely to be required to reach the standards which the Government regard as desirable and which have been agreed with the clubs.