§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many nationwide league football clubs' grounds need major work to bring them up to the standards of the Taylor report in(a) nationwide league division one, (b) nationwide league division two and (c) nationwide league division three. [3766]
§ Mr. SproatThe Football Trust estimates that there are 37 clubs in the Nationwide League whose grounds require improvements to meet Government requirements on all-seating or safe terracing. Of these clubs, seven are in division 1, 14 are in division 2, and 16 are in division 3.
§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what assessment she has made of the improvements needed to football grounds in the nationwide league to enable them to reach Taylor report standards in respect of(a) terracing and seating, (b) barriers, (c) lighting and (d) other safety issues; and what estimates she has made of the cost in respect of each of these categories; [3807]
(2) what estimate she has made of the costs for nationwide league football clubs who need to carry out major work to bring their grounds up to the standards of the Taylor report, in (a) nationwide league division one, (b) nationwide league division two and (c) nationwide league division three. [3703]
§ Mr. SproatMost clubs in Nationwide League division 1 meet the Government's requirements on all-seating. Those few that do not have either been granted an extension to the deadline, on account of their having been recently promoted, or are relocating to new stadia. Clubs in divisions 2 and 3 are not required to go all-seated, but those that choose not to do so will have to meet certain minimum standards for standing terraces by August 1999. A survey is currently being carried out by the Football Licensing Authority to ascertain precisely what will be necessary at each ground to satisfy this minimum requirement.