§ Mr. GallieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if there is to be a reconsideration of the present policy towards all-seated requirement at Scottish Football League grounds.
§ Mr. LangThe Government keep under continual scrutiny the safety of sports grounds. In recent months., we have geen examining the all-seated requirement for those Scottish Football League clubs with grounds designated in terms of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 as being capable of holding more than 10,000 spectators.
We have decided that it would be wrong to review either the principle or the timetable for all-seated grounds in the 627W Scottish Premier League or at Hampden Park and Murrayfield. It is essential that those major Scottish grounds should be all-seated, bearing in mind the large attendance frequently attracted to those grounds. It is also essential that our top football clubs meet the all-seated standards necessary to compete in Europe and make full use of the resources available to them to provide grounds to a standard of which we can all be proud.
However, there may be circumstances in which standing accommodation can be retained at those first and second division grounds presently required to become all-seated, where average attendances are very low in relation to actual ground capacity. Representations will be invited shortly from a number of interested organizations in a review of all-seated policy for those grounds. No changes in policy will be made unless the Government are satisfied about the safety implications of allowing limited standing accommodation to remain at those smaller grounds.
I will make a further announcement as soon as possible.