HC Deb 04 February 1971 vol 810 cc430-1W
Mr. Money

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on crowd safety at football grounds.

Mr. Maudling

In consultation with the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister with special responsibility for sport, I have decided that there should be an independent appraisal of the effectiveness of existing arrangements for crowd safety at sports grounds in Great Britain, and of the improvements which could be brought about within the present framework of law. Lord Wheatley has agreed to undertake this task and to include in his report his opinion on the nature of any alterations in the law which appear to be needed. He will begin work as soon as possible and will concentrate in the first place on safety at football grounds. He will be helped by an assessor having police experience of crowd control and will be able to call on such professional and other help as he finds he needs.

It will take some time to carry through an appraisal of this kind. Meanwhile, as an immediate measure, the Government have thought it desirable to arrange for a small team of experts, headed by Mr. Walter Winterbottom, to be made available to discuss safety precautions with football clubs having regard to their local circumstances. The football authorities have welcomed this. The experience gained through this programme of visits to a number of grounds will be put at the disposal of Lord Wheatley.