Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - Wolverhampton South West)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Wolverhampton Wanderers and (b) other UK football supporters are able to access football matches during the period when they cannot watch in person as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government was pleased to see both the Premier League and English Football League announcements on widening broadcasting coverage for upcoming games.
All Premier League matches in September will be broadcast live, while the EFL announced that, while stadiums remain closed, every EFL game that has not been selected for live coverage will be streamed on club websites.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to issue guidance for non-league football clubs in the National League and National Leagues North and South on allowing supporters into grounds to watch matches.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
On 18th August, the Government amended its guidance to provide extra clarification for organisers of sports events to help them manage and admit spectators safely, adhering to social distancing.
Non-league football clubs from level seven of the pyramid, below the National League North / South, can admit spectators in line with the FA’s definition of non-elite football.
We continue to work closely with all sports, including the interests of football from National League and above, to support the safe return of spectators to stadia more widely from October 1st. As announced by the Prime Minister, this remains subject to successful pilot events, which will now be capped at 1,000 people, and wider prevailing public health factors, both of which remain under active consideration.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place in the Library any medical and scientific advice he received on (a) the holding the Champions League fixture at Anfield Stadium on 11 March 2020 and (b) the decision to allow supporters from Spain to travel to and attend that fixture.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
At the time of the fixture there were no restrictions on mass gatherings or foreign travel. The decision to hold this football match was taken by the footballing authorities.
The Government relies on the advice of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies for scientific and technical advice during emergencies. This included advice on mass gatherings. It concluded that the risk to an individual from attending large events is generally no higher than in smaller events. In most larger events, such as sports matches, attendees will come into close contact with at most a handful of people, so the risk to attendees is low.
The advice can be found here;
On 16 March, the Prime Minister announced significant changes to the Government’s approach to social distancing. This included increasing social distancing to help avoid unnecessary contact between individuals. Advice was issued on mass gatherings on the same day.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-guidance-for-mass-gatherings
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Minister of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if her Department will undertake a trial of safe standing areas in football stadia in England for the next football season.
Answered by Nigel Adams
We are working with the football authorities and supporters’ groups to deliver the government’s commitment to move towards introducing areas of standing in football stadia currently subject to the all-seater policy. I will be setting out the government’s next steps once I have considered the findings of the independent research commissioned by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority into the management of standing at football, the associated safety risks, and how these can be mitigated.
Asked by: Tracy Brabin (Labour (Co-op) - Batley and Spen)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she had with the (a) Premier League, (b) Football League and (c) Football Association on introducing safe standing in football grounds.
Answered by Nigel Adams
I meet with the Premier League, the Football League, the Football Association, the Sports Grounds Safety Authority and the Football Supporters Association regularly to discuss a variety of matters including this government’s commitment to move towards areas of standing in football stadia currently subject to the all-seater policy. I will be setting out the government's intention in this area in due course.
Asked by: Jim McMahon (Labour (Co-op) - Oldham West and Royton)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what support is available to enable fans to have a greater say on the running of the football club they support.
Answered by Nigel Adams
Football clubs and grounds are the heart of local communities, they have unique social value and many with a great history. it is vital they are protected and fans should have their voices heard.
The Fans Fund, funded by the Premier League and administered by the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), includes funds to assist Supporters’ Trusts of clubs in the National League, English Football League and Premier League with the professional fees needed to build a credible bid when an ownership opportunity arises.
The FSA can provide support and advice to fans considering supporter ownership as part of their important work representing and connecting football fans across the country.
The Premier League and English Football League now also require clubs meet with supporters at least twice a year to discuss strategic issues, giving fans the opportunity to shape the direction of the club.
We have committed to a fan led review of football governance, which will include consideration of the Owners’ and Directors’ test.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to combat racism in football.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We strongly condemn the recent incidents of racism in sport both at home and abroad. There is no place anywhere for racism in sport and we want it stamped out at every level of competition.
The football authorities have set out robust plans to combat racism in football. This includes a consistent approach to stronger education measures, improved reporting systems and better training and support for referees and stewards - such as through improved CCTV for recognition of offenders, and expanding the use of body cameras worn by stewards.
The FA have announced an increase of the minimum sanction for discriminatory behaviour to a ten-match ban. It is vital the football authorities continue to prioritise tackling this despicable abuse and we expect them to consult with both players and supporters’ groups as they progress their plans.
We will be monitoring how the football authorities implement their plans through the season.
We welcome the Premier League’s continuing commitment to eradicate racism from the game, with the promotion of their No Room For Racism campaign over two match weeks, that urges supporters to report discrimination.
After the appalling incidents during the recent Bulgaria versus England game, the Government wrote to the England team supporting and commending their dignity on the pitch, and to UEFA urging that swift action be taken to investigate the incidents and punish those involved.
Asked by: Jim Cunningham (Labour - Coventry South)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the adequacy of travel arrangements for football fans.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of matters, and we are aware of the issues around travel to and from football matches. The Department for Transport is working collaboratively with their partners in the rail industry, football bodies and other stakeholders to improve travel for supporters.
Asked by: David Simpson (Democratic Unionist Party - Upper Bann)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has plans to encourage sports clubs to offer family package deals on match tickets.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The cost of attending live sport for all ages is something that must be kept under constant review, and we support a fair deal for fans, but respect that ticket-pricing policies should remain a matter for event hosts.
The Government's sport strategy, Sporting Future, recognises how attending live sporting events can benefit individuals, communities and the wider sporting economy. Ten major sporting events supported by UK Sport saw over 1.1 million people attend in 2017, including the IAAF World Championships in London, where over 100,000 children under 16 attended at a ticket price of £9.58, signifying Usain Bolt's 100m world record. The World Para Athletics Championships similarly saw over 100,000 schoolchildren attend, with 30,000 children being transported free of charge by Transport for London as part of a two session ring-fenced school project. The men's and women's World Series Triathlons held in Leeds in June also attracted over 50,000 spectators who were able to enjoy the events for free.
Football clubs are also offering concessions on ticket prices and associated costs for all fans, including younger supporters, which the recent BBC Price of Football 2017 study highlighted. Overall, English Football League (EFL) figures show that junior season ticket sales have increased by 37% over the past 10 years with 20% of all EFL club match attendees now under 16 years old. Premier League clubs have capped the cost of away tickets to £30 up until 2019, and clubs are helping more with concessions on travel.
Asked by: Royston Smith (Conservative - Southampton, Itchen)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which organisations have expressed to his Department their support for the safe standing initiative at football stadiums.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The English Football League and the Football Supporters’ Federation have expressed support for the introduction of standing accommodation.
Representations have also been received from the following football clubs about the possible introduction of certain types of accommodation which could facilitate standing at parts of their respective grounds: Bristol City, Peterborough United, Grimsby Town, Shrewsbury Town and West Bromwich Albion. Representations about the all-seater policy have also been received from Southampton City Council.