Football: World Cup

Answer: My Lords, I wholeheartedly endorse two things that my noble friend said. I, too, extend very best wishes to our football team, who we all hope will be victorious. Secondly, I absolutely agree with him about the establishment of the fans’ embassies, which have done extremely well. Today, 3,389 banning orders are in place, preventing troublemakers from travelling to the World Cup. An additional 200 persons are prevented from travelling by bail conditions imposed by courts in respect of adjourned banning order hearings, so a really good system is in place to prevent people travelling who should not be travelling.

This is an answer to the Oral question asked on Monday, 5 June 2006 by Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Labour).

Question: My Lords, that is a very encouraging reply and I thank my noble friend for it. I am sure that she will wish to send her very best wishes to the England team as they fly out to Germany this afternoon. Two specific questions arise from her answer. First, how many known troublemakers are the subject of banning orders and have thus been prevented from travelling to Germany for the World Cup? Secondly, does she agree that one of the most hopeful developments of recent years has been the establishment of what are called fans’ embassies in the host cities, so that England supporters going to those cities know where to go for advice and help? Do they not reflect really well on all the parties that have worked so hard to achieve them?

Secondary information