§ Lord Bellwinasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the outcome of the review on the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and the proposals for implementing the recommendations of the final report of the Popplewell Inquiry into Crowd Safety and Control at Sports Grounds will be published.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Glenarthur)My right honourable friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland have today published a consultative documentFire Safety and Safety at Sports Venues. This contains proposals for changes both to the Fire Precautions Act 1971, as a result of an earlier consultative document, and to the provisions for safety in sports venues. The latter proposals give effect to the objectives of the recommendations on crowd safety at sport venues made in the Popplewell Inquiry's Final Report published in January this year, which will supplement the measures taken immediately and those which are to be taken under existing legislation.
The Government attach great importance to maintaining adequate safety standards. We intend to bring forward legislative proposals on the lines set out in this document at the earliest opportunity. The consultative document is being sent to local and fire authorities and to other interested organisations and individuals, and copies have also been placed in the Library. Further copies can be obtained on request by writing to the Home Office Fire and Emergency Planning Department, Room 916, Home Office, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT.