§ Mr. Norman Hoggasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many football matches the Minister for Sport has attended since taking office.
§ Mr. Macfarlane[pursuant to his reply, 25 March 1985, c. 12]: I list below all the football matches which I have attended since September 1981:
Season 1981–82
- England v Hungary
- Manchester City v Swansea City
- Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool
- England v Northern Ireland
- Millwall v Chester
- Liverpool v Swansea City
437 - Tottenham Hotspur v Ipswich Town
- Liverpool v Manchester United
- England v Holland
- England v France
- Northern Ireland v Yugoslavia
- Scotland v Brazil
- England v West Germany
Season 1982–83
- Bayern Munich v Tottenham Hotspur
- Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur
- Ipswich Town v Tottenham Hotspur
- West Bromwich Albion v Liverpool
- Ipswich Town v Manchester United
- Liverpool v Manchester United
- West Ham United v Aston Villa
- Sutton United v Bishops Stortford
- England v West Germany
Season 1983–84
- Holland v Spain
- Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion
- Brighton and Hove Albion v Everton
- Queen's Park Rangers v Everton
- West Ham United v Manchester United
- Ipswich Town v Arsenal
- Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur
- Everton v Gillingham
Season 1984–85
- Everton v Liverpool
- Wycombe Wanderers v Sutton United
- Norwich City v Sunderland
I shall be attending the Stoke City v Everton match on 20 April. In addition to those matches, I was also to have attended two matches which were cancelled due to bad weather.
I assume the hon. Member refers to association football matches, but since September 1981 I have also attended some 20 rugby football league and rugby football union matches at club and international level. If the hon. Member requires that additional detail I shall write to him.