§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what estimate she has made of the total cost of implementing the Taylor committee's recommendations on safety in sports grounds over the period 1990 to 2000. [21223]
§ Mr. SproatFrom 1990 to the end of 1994–95, it is estimated that around £400 million was committed to implementing improvements at league football grounds related to the recommendations of the Taylor report into the Hillsborough disaster. In 1993, it was estimated that, between 1995–96 and 1999–2000, a further £295 million would be needed to complete this work. The latest estimate by the Football Trust is that likely costs will be £358 million. To date, the Football Trust has contributed some £135 million towards the league clubs' costs, funded from a special 2.5 per cent. reduction in pool betting duty that will continue until 2000. A further 0.5 per cent. reduction in pool betting duty was announced in the last Budget, effective from May 1996, which it is estimated will generate an extra £2.5 million to £3 million a year for the Football Trust to grant aid Taylor-related works.