§ Mr. Alan KeenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to announce the outcome of the public consultation exercise on the Review of Football-related Legislation which was published on 27 November 1998. [79772]
§ Kate HoeyThe document entitled "Review of Football-related Legislation" set out 29 proposals for discussion on measures to help to prevent and minimise football hooliganism at designated football matches in England and Wales and overseas.
The consultation period ended on 27 January and some 50 responses were received from organisations and individuals. The overwhelming response to the measures was supportive. Respondents to the document as a whole recognised the need for measures to be introduced to deal with the loopholes in the present legislation. They also indicated strong support for those proposals aimed at dealing with measures to help to prevent those convicted of football-related offences from attending designated football matches. I am placing a summary of the responses in the Library.
The response to the public consultation exercise has been made known to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) whose Bill, the Football (Offences and Disorder) Bill, is due for its Second Reading on 16 April.