My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Tom Harris) has made the following Ministerial Statement. I have today launched a six-week public consultation on a proposed new policy for roadside facilities on England’s strategic road network. The draft policy has been prepared in light of responses to...

My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Tom Harris) has made the following Ministerial Statement. I have today launched a six-week public consultation on a proposed new policy for roadside facilities on England’s strategic road network. The draft policy has been prepared in light of responses to...

I have today launched a six week Public Consultation on a proposed new policy for roadside facilities on England's strategic road network. The draft policy has been prepared in light of responses to a previous 12-week call for evidence and is aimed at improving service to road users. Views are...

I have today launched a six week Public Consultation on a proposed new policy for roadside facilities on England's strategic road network. The draft policy has been prepared in light of responses to a previous 12-week call for evidence and is aimed at improving service to road users. Views are...

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on standing spectators at professional football matches.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on standing spectators at professional football matches.

The Minister will realise from my earlier contribution that I am broadly sympathetic to what he is saying, but he has not really answered a question that was put earlier: why are there such different regimes in the same stadiums for football fans and for those attending a pop concert...

The Minister will realise from my earlier contribution that I am broadly sympathetic to what he is saying, but he has not really answered a question that was put earlier: why are there such different regimes in the same stadiums for football fans and for those attending a pop concert...

Does the Minister agree that it is vital to keep stressing the difference between football and all the other activities that have been referred to? We need only examine what happened in June at the champions league final in Athens and UEFA's criticism of Liverpool supporters. The problems are sadly...

Does the Minister agree that it is vital to keep stressing the difference between football and all the other activities that have been referred to? We need only examine what happened in June at the champions league final in Athens and UEFA's criticism of Liverpool supporters. The problems are sadly...

That is a good point, but I think that I have answered the question. It is because of the history of violence and disorder that has taken place. That was why segregation was needed between fans of different football clubs, which has not been the case in any other sport....

That is a good point, but I think that I have answered the question. It is because of the history of violence and disorder that has taken place. That was why segregation was needed between fans of different football clubs, which has not been the case in any other sport....

That also colours my judgment on the current position. There have been massive steps forward, and I appreciate the work of the Football Supporters Federation, Supporters Direct and football clubs themselves in ensuring that they improve safety and the culture at their grounds. The culture is changing, and more women...

That also colours my judgment on the current position. There have been massive steps forward, and I appreciate the work of the Football Supporters Federation, Supporters Direct and football clubs themselves in ensuring that they improve safety and the culture at their grounds. The culture is changing, and more women...

It is always a pleasure to initiate a debate under your wise and experienced chairmanship, Mr. Marshall, and it is a delight to see you. I extend my congratulations to the Minister on his new appointment, although in his short tenure his record of sporting success is pretty dismal. Wales...

It is always a pleasure to initiate a debate under your wise and experienced chairmanship, Mr. Marshall, and it is a delight to see you. I extend my congratulations to the Minister on his new appointment, although in his short tenure his record of sporting success is pretty dismal. Wales...

Of course, I accept entirely what my hon. Friend says—I am sure that Northern Ireland will, as always, battle to the end. To return to my point, the new Minister's sporting record is dismal. The England rugby team are in demise and are no longer world champions, the England cricket...

Of course, I accept entirely what my hon. Friend says—I am sure that Northern Ireland will, as always, battle to the end. To return to my point, the new Minister's sporting record is dismal. The England rugby team are in demise and are no longer world champions, the England cricket...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate, but does he agree that we need to stress the voluntary nature of his proposal? The Foxes Trust, of which I am a member, is associated with Leicester City football club. It is surveying visitors to Leicester City to find the...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate, but does he agree that we need to stress the voluntary nature of his proposal? The Foxes Trust, of which I am a member, is associated with Leicester City football club. It is surveying visitors to Leicester City to find the...

On a point of order, Mr. Marshall. Northern Ireland are not out of the European championship—they have only to beat Denmark and Spain to qualify.

On a point of order, Mr. Marshall. Northern Ireland are not out of the European championship—they have only to beat Denmark and Spain to qualify.

Will my hon. Friend give way for a second and final time?

Will my hon. Friend give way for a second and final time?

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend, and I shall come to discuss the issue he raised. Of course, everybody stands up when a goal is scored or when a player is substituted and applauded from the pitch. Before developing the reasons why safe standing areas ought to...

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend, and I shall come to discuss the issue he raised. Of course, everybody stands up when a goal is scored or when a player is substituted and applauded from the pitch. Before developing the reasons why safe standing areas ought to...

My hon. Friend is right that there were no specific recommendations covering the broad mass of football, but does he agree with me that one of the specific recommendations that Lord Justice Taylor did make—he could not have been clearer—was that clubs should not use the advent of all-seater stadiums...

My hon. Friend is right that there were no specific recommendations covering the broad mass of football, but does he agree with me that one of the specific recommendations that Lord Justice Taylor did make—he could not have been clearer—was that clubs should not use the advent of all-seater stadiums...

By all means.

By all means.

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. Perhaps I can give him some encouraging news. Pearse Flynn, the owner of my local club, Livingston, was very keen, once Livingston were in the premier league, to have standing areas, not only because prices would be cheaper but because he...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate. Perhaps I can give him some encouraging news. Pearse Flynn, the owner of my local club, Livingston, was very keen, once Livingston were in the premier league, to have standing areas, not only because prices would be cheaper but because he...

As always, my hon. Friend makes an excellent point. It is true that that is exactly what Lord Justice Taylor said. I shall return to that point. Let us examine exactly what Lord Justice Taylor said:"““There is no panacea which will achieve total safety and cure all problems of behaviour...

As always, my hon. Friend makes an excellent point. It is true that that is exactly what Lord Justice Taylor said. I shall return to that point. Let us examine exactly what Lord Justice Taylor said:"““There is no panacea which will achieve total safety and cure all problems of behaviour...

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point; he is absolutely right. As I would expect, and as always, Scotland leads the way. However, what he describes is not happening just in Scotland. There are owners of football clubs in the United Kingdom who support safe standing areas, but I will...

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point; he is absolutely right. As I would expect, and as always, Scotland leads the way. However, what he describes is not happening just in Scotland. There are owners of football clubs in the United Kingdom who support safe standing areas, but I will...

I, too, congratulate the hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath (Mr. Godsiff) on securing the debate. Like him, I congratulate the Football Supporters Federation on the excellent document that it has produced on this issue. I congratulate, too, all those who have spoken. I do not think that...

I, too, congratulate the hon. Member for Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath (Mr. Godsiff) on securing the debate. Like him, I congratulate the Football Supporters Federation on the excellent document that it has produced on this issue. I congratulate, too, all those who have spoken. I do not think that...