HC Deb 22 February 1995 vol 255 cc234-5W
Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people were issued with tickets for the Englandv. Ireland football match in Dublin by the England Travel Club; what was the total number of tickets issued to the Football Association; how many tickets were returned to the Football Association of Ireland; and what discussions took place between the Football Associations and the British and Irish police about the allocation of returned tickets;

(2) what reports he has received about the transfer of police intelligence about known troublemakers travelling to Dublin for the England v. Ireland football match; to whom in Ireland such information was made available; on what dates information was issued; and what steps he has taken to ensure that there was full and proper assessment made of intelligence by responsible bodies in the United Kingdom;

(3) if he will call for reports from the police on varying use of powers to stop people travelling to attend the England v. Ireland football match in Dublin (a) at Holyhead and (b) elsewhere;

(4) how many British police travelled with persons travelling to Dublin (a) the day before and (b) on the day of the England v. Ireland football match in Dublin.

(5) if the advice of the British police was sought by the FAI and or the Irish police over the kick-off time of the England v. Ireland football match in Dublin, the seating and segregation arrangements of English and Irish fans and the reallocation of tickets not taken up by the England Travel Club.

Mr. Maclean

I have asked for reports from the police on the assistance given to the Irish authorities and other action taken in relation to this match. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 16 February,Official Report, column 1125, the Football Associations of England and Ireland are conducting a joint inquiry into the events in Dublin and this will also look into some of the matters which the hon. Member has raised. I do not think it would be helpful for me to comment in advance of the results of the joint inquiry.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations underlay the decision of the police not to use, to stop known troublemakers travelling to attend the Englandv. Ireland football match in Dublin, the powers used during strikes to stop persons joining pickets; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

The police may limit numbers in any particular place in order to prevent breaches of the peace and it was under this common law power that the police stopped and turned back pickets during the miners' dispute. This power is not available to the police in situations where breach of the peace is likely to occur outside this jurisdiction nor have they any other such power to stop known troublemakers travelling abroad.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy initiatives he is taking as a result of public disorder at the Englandv. Ireland football match, involving British citizens before and after the match in Dublin and by persons wishing to travel to the match who were prevented from taking ferries to Ireland at Holyhead; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maclean

Over the last few years, we have introduced a range of measures to counter the threat posed by football hooliganism both inside and outside the ground. I will consider—in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage—what further measures may be necessary in the light of the events which took place in Dublin, of reports from the police and of the joint inquiry being undertaken by the Football Associations of England and of Ireland.

Mr. Madden

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what policy action he is taking, jointly with ministerial colleagues from appropriate Departments, to address the threat posed to public order within the United Kingdom and overseas by fascist groups based in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Howard

I ensure that the police have the resources and powers that they need effectively to discharge their responsibility to assess and counter threats to public order from any quarter. The police pass information about threats to public order overseas to their counterparts in the countries concerned.