HC Deb 07 December 1990 vol 182 cc229-30W
Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all persons or organisations in Scotland with whom arrangements have been made by his Department with a view to enforcing the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Scotland) Order 1990; what form these arrangements have taken; and what further measures he intends to take to promote this order.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Article 3 of the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Scotland) Order 1990 specifies the Crown Office, Edinburgh, as the authority in Scotland that will certify the conviction of a person there of an offence specified in schedule 1 to the order. These arrangements are well known to the procurator fiscal. No further formal arrangements are required.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all persons or organisations in Italy with whom arrangements have been made by his Department with a view to enforcing the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Italy) Order 1990; what form these arrangements have taken; and what further measures he intends to take to promote this order.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Article 3 of the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Italy) Order 1990 specifies the Ministry of Grace and Justice as the authority in Italy that will certify the conviction of a person there of an offence specified in schedule 1 to the order. No further formal arrangements are required.

The standing committee of the European convention on spectator violence and misbehaviour at sports events urged member states, which include Italy, to act vigorously on the basis of article 5 of the convention in prosecuting hooligans at sports events.

I understand that the Ministry of Justice has reminded the Italian courts that confirmed convictions involving British nationals should be reported to it.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he will take in relation to persons convicted abroad of offences corresponding to those set out in schedule 1 of the Football Spectators Act 1989, but whose cases are subsequently subject to appeal proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

In accordance with section 22(4) of the 1989 Act a restriction order may not be made in relation to a person convicted in a country outside England and Wales of a "corresponding offence" if it appears that the conviction is the subject of proceedings in a court of law in that country questioning the conviction.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all persons or organisations in Sweden with whom arrangements have been made by his Department with a view to extending the measures outlined in the Football Spectators (Corresponding Offences in Italy) Order 1990, to cover offences committed in Sweden; what form these arrangements have taken; and what further steps he intends to take to extend these measures.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

We are in discussion with the Swedish authorities on this matter. No formal arrangements have been agreed as yet.