§ Mr. CabornTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire as to the numbers of police officers deployed(a) outside the ground and (b) inside the ground at the Sheffield, Hillsborough football ground in each of the last 10 years when FA cup semi-final matches have been played ther;
(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire as to how many police officers were involved in the total operation for policing FA cup semi-final matches in each of the last 10 years that they have been played at Sheffield, Hillsborough.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand from the chief constable of the South Yorkshire police that the total number of police officers involved in 1988 was 1,173 and in 1989 1,133. Of these totals the number of officers dedicated to policing inside the ground in 1988 was 286 and in 1989 266. Figures for previous years are not readily available.
§ Mr. CabornTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of South Yorkshire as to the proportion of the cost for the policing operations at Sheffield, Hillsborough football ground that has been paid by(a) Sheffield Wednesday football club and (b) the police authority in each of the last 10 years when FA cup semi-final matches have been played there.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggI understand that FA Cup semi-final matches were played at Hillsborough in 1980, 1987 and 1988. This year's match was abandoned. No information on policing costs is available for 1980 and the costs for this year's match have not yet been calculated. Sheffield Wednesday football club does not bear any part of the costs of these matches, since the costs falling upon the organisers are met by the Football Association. The FA met 26.3 per cent. of the total costs in 1987 and 49.8 per cent. in 1988.