Commons Chamber

Tuesday 8th July 2025

(began 5 days, 2 hours ago)

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None Portrait Q5. What progress she has made on reviewing terms and conditions of service for prison officers. (905071)
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Number five.
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None Portrait Q8. What steps she is taking to support victims of violence against women through the criminal justice system. (905074)
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None Portrait Q18. What steps she is taking to ensure she can refer Parole Board decisions in cases of serious offenders to the High Court. (905085)
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Pat McFadden Portrait Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)
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Thank you. With your permission, I would like to update the house on the government's resilience action plan. We are living through a period of profound change, upheaval in the international order, conflicts raging in the Middle East, war being waged on the continent of Europe, old norms being overturned on a daily basis, and against this backdrop, the government's first duty of keeping the public safe becomes all the more important. Resilience is a measure of great strength, and by that, I mean fundamentals like a good NHS, a secure energy system, good flood defences, all of these things which increase national resilience.

We saw the vulnerabilities exposed by the COVID pandemic in the NHS and in a different impact that it had on different workers, ethnic minorities mems of the community. Resilience has to be for all, not just for some. And by insurance, I mean the emergency systems, the scientific capability, the scale up capability and other measures that we need in a crisis. Everyone knows they need insurance. We also know that no one spends the whole income on it.

That is true for a country too. By definition, preparation for the worst has to sit alongside the week to week provision of the essential services that government runs. And there is no perfectly correct answer to the balance between these two things. What is certain is that the government has to think through the scenarios and try to ensure that the country is as well prepared as possible. Today, we set out how we will do that with the publication of our resilience action plan, a chronic risk analysis and an up date from the UK biological security strategy.

No government can stop every risk from materialising. Every member of this House understands that we are living in a world where we are susceptible to a much wider range of risks than we were even a decade ago. Cyber attacks on household names, trade measures that can trigger fluctuations in the price of food or household goods, power outages, the possibility of another pandemic, these risks are real and they are all different. The answer to these shared challenges lies in making sure that all parts of society are better prepared.

Our economy, our defences, our health systems, our infrastructure, our borders, our industrial base, our energy security. Much of it comes down to the unglamorous work of delivering improved public services. This is what we might call deep resilience and NHS drum enough to cope, and energy system that does not leave us as exposed to the spikes in the price of oil that we saw in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of the Ukraine, a science space that could be called Every member of this House, all of us sharing thoughts in the same direction.

The Action Plan sets us up to do this in three ways. First assessment a continuous basis how resilient the UK is so we can effectively target interventions and resources when and where they are needed. Secondly, enabling the whole of society to take action to increase its resilience. This relies on is changing the culture by making it part of our everyday lives in practical and simple ways. Whether that is the owner of a business introducing new cyber defences or a more informed public knows what to do in order to prefer -- prepare for emergencies.

And third improving Court resilience. We have thousands of frontline public sector workers who are integral to our resilience at a local and national level. From the employees who keep the energy grid running to local responders. I pay tribute to all of them. The Action Plan brings together a range of policies. We have already set out our proposals to increase defence spending, we are earmarking £4.2 billion of funding for new flood defences. £370 million to secure the U.K.'s telecom networks.

Opening a new resilience academy in North Yorkshire that will train 4,000 people every year from both private and public sectors. And later this year we will have the largest ever national pandemic exercise that will test the U.K.'s readiness for future pandemics. We are also developing a risk of an ability map for public servants risk vulnerability map the public servants because all too often it is the most vulnerable in our society who are hardest hit in the case of an emergency.

On top of each of these steps the Action Plan and update on the strategy set out new additional measures. These include a new nationwide test of the U.K.'s emergency alert. This will take place around 3 PM on Sunday, 7 September. It will involve a notification going out to 87 million mobile phones at once. This is the second time we have used this test on a nationwide basis. It will last for around 10 seconds and the mobile phone alert system will play a critical role in making sure we are ready for all kinds of future emergencies.

In the run-up to the test we will work with stakeholders including domestic violence charities to ensure the public has as much warning as possible. As well as the alert we will be pushing ahead to promote the government prepared website to allow individuals, households and communities understand how they can be ready for a range of different emergencies. We continue to support local resilience forums in England because they are essential in planning for and responding to incidents whenever they are occurring.

A biological security strategy includes £15 million from the Integrated Security Fund to help address capability gaps across government and beyond. That is in addition to the £1 billion of investment were announced a fortnight ago for a new network of biosecurity centres to strengthen our defences against biological incidents, accidents and attacks. The defendant's X to also includes £1 million worth of projects for universities like Queen's University Belfast and Cardiff University. My colleague, the Health Secretary will publish a framework explain how the government is bringing together vital scientific research needed to vital scientific research needed to prepare for any future pandemic.

I am also able to announce the national situation centre of governance will sign an MOU to ensure every part of the UK has the best data to prepare and respond to crises. These are practical steps that will help the UK the moment when an emergency comes. Resilience comes from the realisation we need deep strength and the ability to scale up quickly when the situation requires it. That is why the government investment plans announced in the recent spending review are so important.

And by the actions outlined in this plan are important. We will not be resilient unless we invest for the future. A stronger NHS, more and better housing, better energy security, utilising our deep research and development pace and on top of that having the capabilities to really get going fast in an emergency. That is what the plan sets out and I commend it to the House.
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Alex Burghart Portrait Alex Burghart MP (Brentwood and Ongar, Conservative)
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Thank you. I would like to thank the Chancellor and the Duchy for advanced sight of his statement. And I would also like to thank him for the date on which he has chosen to test the UK emergency alert. Which can only have been chosen to notify the country it is my birthday. I shall be looking forward to the alarm at 3 PM very much. I can understand as well why the government would want to plan for resilience.

It is understandable faced with the collapsing economy and collapsing government, with capital flight spiralling borrowing costs and the OBR this morning warning of the Chancellor's latest U-turns which have left Britain vulnerable and less able to respond to future crises the government would want to come forward with a plan. But this plan is published today. It sets out as the Minister has set out and builds on the work of the previous government. Both in the rollout with a national emergency alert system, the expansion biosecurity preparedness, investment in learning -- flooding protection and securing to cross departmental collaboration on resilience and emergency preparedness.

To pick up on a few things, the Chancellor said in his statement he was looking for an assessment on a continuous basis. The report sets out the intention for data collection. It would be useful to hear from him by when the new data framework is going to be available for Oliver Skipp scrutinise. -- For all of us to scrutinise. He said he wished to enable the whole of society to take action. I rather wonder how he intended the whole of society to find out about this? Part of the report itself calls on MHCLG to provide guidance on developing cohesion strategies and monitor tensions.

This does not set easily with the fact the government is not currently tackling Islamist extremism properly. The drugs its veto national inquiry into grooming gangs and it is bringing forward or seems to be bringing forward a highly controversial definition of Islamophobia. The Chancellor referred to improving core public service resilience and that is certainly to be welcomed, particularly on a day it has been announced resident doctors have voted in favour of strikes. Which will result in industrial action in January.

It is notable the plan does not mention an ability to deal with widespread industrial action. Is the government planning for the eventuality of a general strike? On the biological... He also mentions the increase in defence spending which we know is a form of spoken mirrors -- smoke and mirrors. The 1.5% that came in addition to hypothetical 3.5% we understand touches on things such as tunnels and roads. We have also been provided with no baseline is to what is currently spent in those areas.

How will know when the government has got to 1.5 or indeed whether it is at 1.5 already? On the biological security strategy, the last government as the Chancellor of the of -- Duchy of Lancaster did set out, we did take steps in this area and extended our capabilities and publish the first UK biological security strategy. I was interested in this strategy there is a reference to exploring the utility of wastewater analysis. Which had great success doing the pandemic.

Will the Minister set out whether he intends to bring that back on a wide scale and that would be welcomed if that was the case. In terms of the bio threat radar, very pleased the government is pressing ahead with what was a conservative idea. Two years after our announcement there is still no go light data on this -- date on this. It could be an asset to national resilience but we need to know when it will come online. The FCDO also The Auld House of fully operational radar will give us near real-time warning of emerging pathogens.

The WHO has still reminding China to handover its basic biological data on COVID-19. Can he guarantee the radar will allow the UK to independently verify when a state actor chooses to withhold or delay information? I was very interested to read about exercise in Pegasys, the preparations the pandemic exercise. As the Minister will know, different types of pandemic behave in different ways. Which pandemics were tested in Pegasys? Which pandemics were tested in Alcarez? It is very important we understand what the government is looking at in this regard.
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Pat McFadden Portrait Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Wolverhampton South East, Labour)
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Thank you. I am very grateful to the opposition spokesman for his questions. Several things have contrary to to the need for this. The experience of COVID itself, the changing geopolitical situations and changing threat and picture. It is important to be both flexible and dynamic when considering resilience. Let me turn to some of the specifics and in advance of his birthday on September 7 I wish him a very happy birthday and many happy returns. He asked about data collection, this is not something that has a date, it is a constant effort and it is an additional weapon in our armoury, the capacity to use data in a better way today then perhaps we could have done in the past.

In terms of the whole of society, we have a good sensible advice on the go.prepare -- Gove.prepare website. I hope that these preparations measures would become normal for people in the future. The strength of community is very important in community resilience. He refers to strikes in the NHS. We have supported the NHS with significant financial means of support. We have made a very fair pay offer. We very much value the work doctors do but hope everyone in the NHS realises we are a government who supports the NHS, want to work with the staff and industrial action will not do anything to contribute towards that goal.

He referred to biological security and important investments into this, including the opening of the new lab announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for DEFRA couple of weeks ago. On exercise Pegasys, it has not happened yet. It will happen in the autumn. He is right on one thing. It is very important not to fight the last war and assume the next pandemic will be carried in the same way or behave the same as the last one. We have to be flexible in our response and make sure we try to plan for different kinds of scenarios.
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Sarah Olney Portrait Sarah Olney MP (Richmond Park, Liberal Democrat)
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Thank you very much. Can I thank the Chancellor and the Duchy of Lancaster for advanced sight of the statement. The world is less stable and more insecure than at any time since the Cold War. A consequence the government must ensure the British people and United Kingdom are prepared in the event of our country or an overseas territory is threatened. The Liberal Democrats welcome any boost to strengthen our resilience. Especially in relation to cyber security which is a new and evolving threat and against which we must be armed.

While the liberal Democrats welcome the alert test, we would also call for a more wider public information campaign to ensure the public are properly ready for any potential future conflict or disaster that would support resilience building across the UK. Perhaps take some lessons from for example a Scandinavian neighbours. They are working always towards potential future threats, providing information to their citizens. This kind of information should be provided through a number of different means including leaflets, traditional broadcast. While we welcome the alert test as I said, websites and text alerts will miss millions of British people.

People without phones, without battery. We need to be ready on all fronts not just reliant on single tech alerts. I ask the Minister whether they will accept the call to launch national I welcome the talk about being more resilient climate emergencies. We also the horrifying pictures and very upsetting stories from Texas in recent days in the floods there, but in this country, we have had one of the straightest starts to a summer in UK history and it is vital that the government is not caught unawares during the temperature rise.

I had a meeting with Thames Water and they told me that they are preparing drought mitigation measures. The regular supply of water is to people's property and agricultural lands is vital to livelihood and everyday lives, so can I take this opportunity to ask what steps the government is taking to put into place the new action plan to ensure any drought mitigation measures will not significantly impact this country in the coming months.
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None Portrait Ministerial statement: Road and Rail Projects
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Madam Deputy Speaker, with permission I would like to make a
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Heidi Alexander Portrait Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)
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statement on how we are reconnecting Britain. Today I am announcing one of the most transformative of the most transformative investments in our transport network for regeneration. We are green for regeneration. We are green lighting over 50 rail and road projects, touching every corner of projects, touching every corner of the country. From more rail capacity in Oxford and better roads in Newcastle, to new stations in Devon. This is what delivering on our Plan for Change looks like. We said we would raise living standards so today's announcement is about taking today's announcement is about taking breaks of growth, supporting 42,000 new jobs and slashing journey times.

new jobs and slashing journey times. We said we would build 1.5 million new homes. So we are directly supporting the construction of 39,000 new properties showing how transport can lift up communities transport can lift up communities and improve lives. We said we would accelerate net zero. Not only will accelerate net zero. Not only will we make our roads less congested and we make our roads less congested and safer, not only will we continue the EV transition in a sensible way but we will get more people on public transport.

Backing our railways with transport. Backing our railways with new links and more electrified track. More jobs, new housing, better journeys, these are the people priorities and they are mine too. None of this was inevitable. We are here because this government is restoring stability to our finances and honesty to our politics. Thanks to the 10 year infrastructure strategy we are committing at least £725 billion for infrastructure over the next decade. Restoring confidence, driving growth and transforming how projects are delivered.

Through phase 2 of the spending review, £92 billion will be spent on getting Britain moving. We have already confirmed where some of this money is going. Aliens of pounds for upgrades on the TransPennine route, the backbone of our northern cities. -- Billions of pounds for upgrades on the TransPennine route. The biggest ever investment in local transport across the Midlands and the North. And over £2 billion to enable Transport for London to continue with the purchase of new Piccadilly, Bigelow and DLR trains.

-- Bakerloo and DLR trains. Last month the Chancellor said we will be confirming plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail soon. However today I can provide more detail and how we will use our wider spending review settlement. Let me start with our main highways. It should be no surprise when I say the strategic road network is one of our most important national asset. Carrying one third of all traffic, two thirds of our freight generating £400 million for our economy. -- £400 billion for our economy.

They are sustainable for our businesses, our trade and our way of life. Much of the network being built in the '70s and 80s not only are many routes in need of renewal but there are pinch points where nothing short of new infrastructure will do. So after careful consideration I can announce we will fund 5 More Strategic Rd enhancement projects. That starts with linking up the M 54 and M6. And expanding capacity on the a 38. That means better links to thousands of workers in the Midlands as well as supporting over 15,000 new homes across Derby.

We will also start work on the continuous dual carriageway on a 66 across the Pennines. Strengthening road safety, cutting journey times by 12 minutes and getting more people to the regions stunning National Parks. We have set aside funding for the A 46 Newark bypass scheme and the island interchange greater Manchester for both schemes now awaiting the outcome of the live planning process. 97% of trips directly depend on our road network, from cycling to buses and walking to cars.

You name it, our roads carry it. That is why we are investing record funding, enough to fill an extra 7 million potholes this year. It is why we extended the temporary cut in fuel to at the last Budget. It is also why this government will always be on the side of the British people who depend on our roads day in day out. Today we are going even further. I have approved for business cases on the middle which eastern bypass and the A380 to from drum bridges to Newton Abbot meaning these can now enter construction.

I can also announce with secured funding to continue to take forward 28 schemes, from Somerset to Skipton and Newcastle to North I can. I have spoken about the dozens of schemes that will transform journeys across the country full decisions we have made to prioritise essential trips for work, to the shops, to see loved ones and to keep our vital freight sector moving. Now let me turn to the railway. And the projects delivering reliable journeys for delivering reliable journeys for We know real investment outside of London is well overdue.

The Spending Review wrapped up funding for the TransPennine route update, and the new Midlands Real Hub will see the region's most ambitious improvement scheme in the region up to date. Thanks to government funding, huge numbers of additional trains and 20 million extra seats could be added to services in and out of Birmingham each year. But this is not just about delivering big-ticket projects. I can today announce new railway stations at Wellington and clumped in -- other locations in the south-west.

Have also decided to fund the reopening of Haxby station on the York to Scarborough in. It will -- we will replace the aged signalling system, securing the benefits of the new system for the next generation. I have listened carefully to the mayor and my Honourable friend, and we will connect 50,000 people to the rail network. Make no mistake, these and other projects will not just improve the passenger experience. They are down payments in future economic growth, better connectivity and new jobs and homes this government has promised.

Now, I know some Honourable members will have specific schemes in their constituencies, which are at the early stages which have not been funded in the spending review period, which were cancelled but not announced as such by the previous government. Let me reassure colleagues that many of these are worthy projects and we will keep them under review. The soon to be published infrastructure pipeline will set out our longer term outlook and give colleagues transparency which for years they have surly that.

It's important to set the context. We know critical infrastructure projects were promised. We know expectations were raised. Sadly, we know there was no plan to pay for them. Indeed, schemes that formed part of the previous government's major no -- major road network program all of which were meant to be in construction now have not progressed as expected. Almost half are yet to reach the outline business case stage despite being in the programme for six years. Years of dither and delay wasted everyone's time and left communities in limbo.

This I must say is the tragic legacy of the farcical Network North announcement made by the previous Prime Minister. It falls to this government to make the difficult but necessary choices about future transport projects to level with the British public, to provide much-needed certainty and to govern with integrity. Only those projects that are fully costed, affordable and deliver a return on taxpayer's money will be given the green light under my watch. That means no more black holes and no more busted budgets.

No more promising the moon on a stick. Those days are over. I have therefore taken the difficult decision on the strategic node network not to progress the -- strategic road network not to progress the A12 road widening scheme. It was impossible to continue with this. We have also decided not to progress the A47 scheme. We are already investing over £500 million on improvements to the A47 corridor. Sections in Norfolk are already underway.

It is not feasible to support further investment at this time. I understand some communities will feel frustrated but by taking this decision, were rebalancing funds towards those areas that for too long have not had the infrastructure investment they have deserved. The North and Midlands will now get a high proportion of strategic road spend that we have seen in the last five years. I believe that is the right and fair thing to do. Finally, the previous government spent many years and a lot of money developing plans for large local schemes and major road network projects that were never going to be affordable and therefore never got off the ground.

We cannot go on like this. Whilst I have today written to colleagues and councils about 28 schemes which we will fund, many others now need to be reviewed. My officials will work with councils and which schemes to prioritise and I will update the house on steps once those discussions have taken place. We are making a once in a generation commitment to get Britain moving. Better roads and new rail links will raise living standards, increase opportunity and deliver on a Plan for Change.

Throughout we will always put British people first. That means being honest about inevitable trade-offs. It means understanding that financial stability remains the bedrock of economic growth and it means ensuring we always deliver the best value for taxpayers money. I truly believe that talent exist across this country, yet poor connectivity is a drag on opportunity and places a ceiling on people's aspiration. That changes now. We will reconnect written and we will deliver a world class transport infrastructure this country needs.

That's my ambition and I commend this statement to the house.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Before I call the Shadow
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Gareth Bacon Portrait Gareth Bacon MP (Orpington, Conservative)
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development consent order was signed in March last year under the last Conservative government. The Secretary of State knows it was in the last spending period. The forthcoming spending review was always going to be after the general election. I could go on and on. Every single one of the schemes announced by the government today are the result of the work of the previous Conservative government. So I cannot muster the same enthusiasm as the right honourable lady when it comes to today's announcement.

The truth is whether they know it or not, the Secretary of State and her ministers have been sent to the size today to stage a destruction. In recent weeks, we have seen the economic credibility and the political unity of this government employed. We have seen the Chancellor who promised to maintain an Irish group and the public finances -- iron grip, complete U- turn after you turn. I know what this means. It means more taxes for families, businesses. The Chancellor has admitted it herself.

We know the impact this will have on the economy. In the last few months, the OBR, the Bank of England and the OECD have downgraded UK's of interest -- forecast by as much as half. The government are kidding themselves if they believe renouncing infrastructure projects already in the pipeline will revive an economy faltering after a disastrous first year in office. With the tax burden reaching a historic high, inflation almost double the Bank of England does not target an inflation rising because their party are seemingly incapable of implementing any welfare reform.

Far from fixing the foundations, the government are destroying them. Now the line has been set -- no deadline has been set. I must question whether the funding for this project is as secure as the noble Lady claims. With the OBR expected to downgrade forecasts, we know that Labour have sunk billions into Labour have sunk billions into public finances. -- Public projects. Does she recognise these projects alone will not revive an economy that is faltering under the government's economic mismanagement? Will she set a timeframe for this project not just to be started but completed? In summary, what we have seen in recent weeks as the following.

A Prime Minister who is -- whose unpopularity with the public has exceeded his popularity in his own backbenchers, a Chancellor who is wilting under strain, government out of steam after only one year in office and forced to rely on ideas thought up by other people. It's no surprise they would like to speak about anything other than their record in office but Britain deserves better.
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Heidi Alexander Portrait Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport (Swindon South, Labour)
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Sometimes, I do wonder what alternative reality the Honourable gentleman is living in. Network North might have promised everything to everyone, but not a penny of it was funded. Are missing local areas schemes that they knew would never go into materialise -- onto materialise is no way to run a government and no way to run a country. This government is providing certainty to those areas, giving the green light to important road and rail schemes and being honest about what we can afford.

I don't know if he caught the former Rail Minister at the transport select committee last week. He had this to say about the record of the previous government : a lot of promises were made to MPs and others as to the ambition but it did not match the amount that was actually being sat down -- set down. By the time I came into pose, I end up with a list that was much longer than could be funded." I rest my case.

He talks about nothing being new but let me give him some examples of new projects we are announcing today. The upgrade of the Tyne & Wear Metro, replacing the signal system dating back to the 70s and enabling the extension of the Metro to Washington. New rail stations from Wellington and Devon, Portis head and peel into Preston -- Peele, connecting thousands of people. Which Transport Secretary under the Conservatives committed to these projects? He cannot answer because none of them did.

To take the -- one of the new roads as an example. The previous government rejected the business case for this scheme. This government is funding it. The infrastructure, new rail stations, new roads connecting every part of our country. That is the difference a Labour government makes.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

Chair of the select committee.
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Gideon Amos Portrait Gideon Amos MP (Taunton and Wellington, Liberal Democrat)
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Liberal Democrat spokesperson. neglected by the last Conservative government. From potholes to cancelled bus services, skyhigh train tickets, and entirely fictional rail and transport budget, safe reliable transport system is vital for economic growth, of course it is. This capital investment is of course welcome news. We are pleased to see the government answer the calls of the Liberal Democrats and other campaigners for vital upgrades such as new rail investment on the northern routes. Given the hardfought campaign by local people in my constituency, I would also like to particularly welcome confirmation of new stations in Wellington and first proposed in this House by the predecessor, Jaromy Browne MP.

I can't go as far as agreeing to relocate Wellington into Devon, it does remain in Somerset. But they are both long overdue rail projects. I thank the Secretary of State for engaging not just with myself, my honourable friend and members across the house including the honourable before Exeter who I see regularly on the importance of these stations for the whole regional economy. Long overdue funding for the West Midlands Rail Hub is also welcome. Turning to road infrastructure, many of the schemes announced today have been sought for many years.

We are pleased to see investment in the A66, something my honourable friend has consistently campaigned for. As well as investment in infrastructure in Manchester, Derby, Nottingham. But clarity is still needed on how exactly funding for these projects will be spent. After years of delays, broken promises, and mismanagement, not least with HS2, public confidence in government ability to deliver major infrastructure is understandably low. May I ask the Secretary of State, given the effects of inflation over the course of the 12 month review of the Wellington projects and others, can the Minister confirm today that the project will be fully funded and completed in the two is it takes to construct them? When will the government finally published detailed plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail? Can the government give the country a firm assurance all these projects will be delivered on time and on budget in a cost- effective manner?
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Gareth Thomas Portrait Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Harrow West, Labour )
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Sir Wyn Williams has today released the first volume of his report into the Horizon scandal which caused so much time to so many innocent people. The fearless and diligent work of his enquiry has won the trust and admiration of postmasters. The enquiry has asked penetrating questions on a large number of witnesses and has scrutinised more than 2 million pages of evidence. The whole house I know recognises the bravery of the postmasters who fought against enormous odds to see their cause recognised.

The report reminds us that blameless people were impoverished, bankrupted, stressed beyond belief, lost their jobs, their managers, the reputations, the mental health and in some cases, I'm sure the whole House will show my gratitude to Sir Wyn Williams and his team to the report. This spells out the human impact on looking at that redress schemes that have been put in place in response. The second volume will in due course deal with the causes of the scandal and how repetition can be avoided.

To be clear, I'm sympathetic to his 19 recommendations today. Clearly a number of them require careful consideration. We will respond them properly with some concern about the ongoing delivery of the Horizon schemes. We will set a deadline of 10th of October and we will beat it was House will see that he has accepted that the post office, department, and ministers continue to adhere to the aims of providing financial redress which is full, fair, and prompt. He concludes that the majority of people who have accepted offers under the GLO scheme would have done so because for them the offer was full and fair.

That said, he makes some understandable criticisms especially of the Horizon Shortfall Scheme which we will need to study closely and address. We inherited a compensation process which was widely seen as too slow, adversarial and legalistic. Over four years after the first High Court case exposed the scandal, only 2500 postmasters and had final settlements. There were key significant gaps in the compensation process, and many victims and not come forward. Indeed there was no compensation scheme in place for those postmasters whose convictions had been overturned by Parliament.

One year ago, government had paid £236 million of redress. We have now for Drupal is that to nearly £1.1 billion. We have launched a compensation scheme for postmasters who have had their convictions overturned, the Horizon Convictions Redress Scheme. And arrangements to overturned convictions. And we have delivered a £75,000 fixed some offer and over 200,000 sub-postmasters opted for it. We have opted in the event process to allow people to appeal their HSS settlement or offers. This should provide, as the report says, an opportunity to put right any failures to deliver redress which is full and fair for HSS claims.

And look at Fujitsu and the cost of contributions to the scandal. As the House notes and the report underlines, there is still a lot more to do. I know that those postmasters who are yet to agree final compensation are frustrated with the delay. So my. We have been consulting regularly with the Horizon Compensation Advisory Board and others on what more we can do to approve redress. The recommendations are very helpful in that regard. Two of the recommendations address issues which we have already been working on a cross government and with the advisory report.

I can confirm we accept the recommendation that claimants should be able to bank the best offer they get the GLO process and should not sit at risk if they choose to go to the independent panel. Secondly we will provide redress for family members of postmasters who suffered because of the scandal. I have met the group "Lost chances for postmasters children" who have campaigned with considerable courage. The report recognises that designing a suitable compensation scheme for family members raises some very difficult issues.

Nonetheless we want to look after those family member who suffered most, and meeting the recommendation that we should give " Redress to close family members of the most adversely affected by Horizon. " Given these challenges we will now discuss the details on how the scheme should be run with claimants lawyers, the independent Advisory Board, and the Lost chances group. And close family members of existing Horizon claimants who themselves suffered personal injury including psychological distress because of their relative suffering. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will need contemporaneous written evidence of that personal injury.

There are some fundamental lessons to be learnt which the report .2. About how compensation following wrongdoing on the scale should be delivered in future. In particular, the post office should never have been allowed. Decisions on funding should be made more quickly and it should not have needed the ITV drama distillate action to overturn hundreds of unjust convictions. We cannot now turn back the clock to fix those fundamental mistakes. We must instead address two challenges, the first is to make sure that if there is ever another terrible scandal like this one, and all of us will sincerely hope that there isn't, but the victims do not need to bring in a dramatic court case to expose it.

The second challenge of such another scandal happens, government must be set up to offer trusted redress from the very start. The report argues that should be eight standing public body to deliver redress in any further scandal. I have a considerable amount of sympathy with that view. Clearly we should need to analyse the options fully before we commit to it. We will reflect on how to address those twin challenges and will bring our conclusions back to the House. Madame Deputy Speaker, we can never recompense a person properly for their freedom are wrongly being denied them.

The humiliation of being wrongly accused, of seeing your loved ones in profound distress or worse. Or recompense someone for their good reputation been taken from them. I cannot assuage the anger of the victims, nor the anger I feel on their behalf ever be assuaged. But we are determined to do more on redress and to do it quickly. To give more of the victims of this appalling scandal at least a measure of the peace they rightly deserve. I commend the report to the House.



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Shadow Minister.

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Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Can I thank the Minister as well for advanced sight of his statement? We advanced sight of his statement? We welcome the release of volume 1 of the Post Office Horizon inquiry the Post Office Horizon inquiry final report. I would like to put on record my thanks to Sir Wyn Williams and inquiry team all the work they and inquiry team all the work they have done alongside all those who gave evidence. This inquiry lays bare one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in modern British history.

Volume 1 focuses on British history. Volume 1 focuses on redress and the human impact of the Horizon scandal which has been Horizon scandal which has been evolving since the year 2000. The human impact revealed is human impact revealed is particularly devastating. The report reveals that at least 13 people may reveals that at least 13 people may have taken their own lives as a result of the Post Office Horizon IT
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Harriett Baldwin Portrait Dame Harriett Baldwin MP (West Worcestershire, Conservative)
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never recompense a person properly for this miscarriage, I'm sure the whole House will want to ensure that whole House will want to ensure that the victims are fully compensated by the schemes. I would like to put on the schemes. I would like to put on record my tribute to the work of the member for Thirsk and Malton who set up the process of redress. The report has recommended that the report has recommended that the government and /or the department and, where appropriate the post and, where appropriate the post office and Fujitsu, should provide a written response to the recommendations of 10 October.

Can the Minister confirm that the the Minister confirm that the government will be able to say by 10 government will be able to say by 10 October whether they are going to accept all 19 of the recommendations accept all 19 of the recommendations in the report? The report details that there is still much to be done to ensure justice for the victims. to ensure justice for the victims. Can I ask the Minister who and how of those responsible be held of those responsible be held answerable for the years of denial and suffering? This was not simply a and suffering? This was not simply a technical failure.

It was a failure of oversight governance and of oversight governance and accountability. The report finds that the post office and Fujitsu new, or at the very least, they should have known, that the Horizon IT system had faults. The sub- postmasters are also described as victims of wholly unacceptable behaviour by the two companies. Sir Wyn Williams has stated there are still more than 3000 claims to resolve. They have been egregious delays in compensation. Can the minister update the House on the most recent status of the compensation schemes? What steps is the Minister taking to address these concerns, and how is the government ensuring that full fare and fast compensation is delivered without further Roxy or delay? Can the minister update us on what action is being taken in relation to Fujitsu? They are still being awarded government contracts full stop Fujitsu said they would wait until the inquiry reports to offer compensation.

So Can the minister confirm there is now nothing stopping Fujitsu from paying interim compensation now? And Can the minister confirm that it will be made clear how much he believes Fujitsu should contribute to the redress scheme? In the spending review, the government allocated £86 million from its transfer fund for the post office. Specifically earmarked to support investment planned including replacing the existing Horizon computer system. Can the minister update the House on the progress of securing a new computer system for the post office? And if this system will be replacing the Horizon system in its entirety? What assessment has he made of the earlier Capture accounting software and its legs your problems? Finally to move on from this protracted miscarriage, Can the minister say when we will receive the much anticipated Green paper on the future of the post office? How will the public be able to have their say on this consultation? Time for half measures is over.

Justice delayed is justice denied, and those affected by the scandal deserve nothing less than the full force of the government's commitment to truth, reform, and redress, and taxpayers also deserve to know how much ministers think Fujitsu should pay

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to resolve these terrible wrongs. To I thank lazy for her comments and
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Gareth Thomas Portrait Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Harrow West, Labour )
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I thank lazy for her comments and questions. She zaps to be right in questions. She zaps to be right in opening remarks about this being the greatest miscarriage of justice in our country's history, and response ability on all of us to do what we can to make sure victims receive full and fair compensation. And we do everything we can do to ensure that there is never a repeat. She challenges me on this. I can confirm we are determined to meet the deadline.

And some of the recommendations concern the ongoing delivery of the heart Horizon compensation schemes. We do not want inadvertently to delay and hold back any of those claims from going forward. She rightly gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to the right honourable gentleman for Thirsk and Malton for the work that he did when he was Post Office Minister. Without question, we would be even further behind without the considerable amount of work and effort being put in place.

There are many others in the House who campaigned on behalf of the sub- postmasters. I see the right honourable gentleman in his place, and my right honourable friend who chairs the Select Committee is one other too. Who and how will those responsible be held to account is one of the other questions that the honourable Lady opposite ask. She will know that Sir Wyn Williams is due to publish the second part of his report which focuses on those very questions.

We will consider carefully what he has to say where we receive the report. She will also already know that the Metropolitan Police are leading an investigation into whether there is criminal responsibility at play here. Over 100 police officers are working on that investigation. They have identified a number of individuals of interest, and we will see what they do with regard to those particular individuals in due course. She and the House will understand that ministers are not in any way involved in those decisions.

What further steps have we taken to deliver and speed up compensation? She will be aware in particular on the Horizon Shortfall Scheme that we the Horizon Shortfall Scheme that we had issued the early opportunity for sub-postmasters applying for that scheme who wants to accept a fixed sum payment of £75,000 to do so. We will put in place an appeals process to try and give those who feel they have not received to date a fair offer, a chance to get a full and fair redress.

But there are particular challenges in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme. It is a scheme if I'm honest that I worry about the most, not least because there are 1700 cases where it does not appear to be any evidence of shortfalls. That does not mean that there were not shortfalls, it means at this stage that we do not have evidence of what those shortfalls were. As the House would expect, I've gone back to the post office and made clear we want to reinvestigate to see whether evidence can be found around as many of those cases as is possible.

We are looking very carefully at what we can do about the rest. On Fujitsu, again, we will need to see the final report to understand fully the degree of Fujitsu's culpability. I have made clear to Fujitsu that we think they should bring forward an interim compensation payment. I hope we will see them see the report today. She asked me about the Green Paper. We hope to publish it shortly. The issues which she quite rightly will recognise, Green Paper will consider, is the future of the post office IT systems.

We certainly need to move on from the past and move on to Arise in and we will set out in more detail what work we are doing in that regard.
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Gareth Thomas Portrait Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Harrow West, Labour )
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I take the opportunity to pay again a tribute to the work of the Business and Trade Select committee under my right honourable friend's As he has said, there have been a serious recommendations from his Committee. I realise we have not always agreed with all of those recommendations. For me, the question about whether to offer legal advice in terms of Horizon CAME claims has always been a finely balanced judgement. -- Horizon Shortfall Scheme claims. So many Shortfall Scheme claims.

So many have accepted the payment I think is an indication of that appetite. Nevertheless, I recognise that Sir William Williams -- Sir Wyn Williams have give us a very particular answer on that question. We will consider this carefully. On the question of whether the post office should be stripped completely of the responsibility for the Horizon SCHEME, there is no doubt that if we were starting afresh, the Post- Office would have no responsibility Office would have no responsibility Office would have no responsibility When I look at the question of who should be responsible for the delivery of compensation, this would cause further delay to victims receiving compensation.

The post office should not be involved in the horizon shortfall scheme delivery. I hope given the numbers of people who have come forward with appeals in the Horizon Shortfall Scheme, we will be able to offer confidence to those people that they will have the chance to get their full compensation.
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Edward Leigh Portrait Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP (Gainsborough, Conservative)
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make the point of order, following the sad death of Lord Tebbit last night. Obviously, I feel particularly touched by this because I served with him in Parliament between 1983 and 1992. I suppose I'm one of the last Thatcherite left standing here. To us he was an icon of everything we believed in in terms of small government and deregulation, he was the original Brexiteer, the original campaigner against Woking. He had an extraordinary ability with words. He came from humble backgrounds and he summed up everything we believed in, really pulling himself up and achieving greatness.

But I don't want to end on a political note, what I really want to end on is a personal note. I know that he has a reputation as a hard-hitting politician, but above all he was a supremely kind man. And very kind to us younger Members of Parliament, I remember sitting in the tearoom when Mrs Thatcher resigned asking if he would stand as leader of the Conservative Party. To my regret he said he couldn't, and the reason was in the events of the bombing of the Grand Hotel in 1984, I think he showed tremendous courage and stoicism.

Above all and although he lead our party to victory as chairman in the 1987 election, refuse office because he devoted his whole life in terms of love and devotion to his wife Margaret. Who was in a wheelchair for the rest of her life after those terrible events. So it's a great honour and delight in this short point of order to pay tribute to my friend, Lord

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Norman Tebbit. I thank the honourable gentleman for his touching tribute, which is
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None Portrait Ten Minute Rule Motion: Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (Training in Schools)
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Thank you very much. May I just
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Nesil Caliskan Portrait Nesil Caliskan MP (Barking, Labour)
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remark on what touching tributes we just heard in the chamber. I beg to move that leave be given to bring in move that leave be given to bring in a Bill to make provision about the evaluation of training about special educational needs and disabilities educational needs and disabilities initial teacher education requiring training about special educational needs for certain persons working in schools as part of their continuing professional development and for professional development and for connected purposes. Every child deserves an inclusive education.

In an environment that enables them to thrive. Every child should have teachers and support staff that teachers and support staff that understand their needs and who also have the professional capacity and have the professional capacity and skills to care for and teach each child. Proposing this bill in this child. Proposing this bill in this house, because sadly that is not the experience for many children with special educational needs living in special educational needs living in my constituency. Children in Barking and Dagenham have been left out and Dagenham have been left out because of a national system is broken.

Across the country parents are feeling hopeless and teachers are feeling hopeless and teachers are overwhelmed. Last night my honourable friend from my neighbouring constituency of Dagenham and Rainham secured an important debate in this House on ascent. She highlighted that in 2022 the request for Education, Health and Care Plans in Barking and Dagenham doubled, and increase of four times the national average. I know central to the Labour government's mission is to improve the life chances of children, regardless of their background or needs.

However, without fixing special educational needs support we cannot achieve that. And so, as the bill sets out, requiring compulsory SEND training for teachers and staff would provide them with the skills they need to educate our children. Currently initial teacher education and continued professional development programs have no dedicated SEND training. SEND seminars and sessions are woven into extra-curriculum, they failed to give teachers the expertise they need to support children. Often the debts and practical application of existing training is too variable, and many teachers feel underprepared.

Teachers require professional expertise to effectively provide wraparound support for all children. But instead, currently children with SEND are forced into an overstretched EHCP process, managed by overburdened local authorities because mainstream school support has been stripped away after 14 years of Conservative cuts. When I visit schools and meet parents in my constituency, I've also recently held a coffee morning at over 100 people attended, I hear the same thing over and over again. That early help makes a big difference.

Early help can only happen with appropriately trained teachers, with the skills to identify children in need. Making sure a child receives speech and language support for example would, as the evidence overwhelmingly shows, reduce behavioural issues in children with SEND. Making a mainstream setting more successful for many children, than might otherwise be excluded from school. SEND children are five times more likely to be excluded and they have some of the widest attainment grades of any demographic.

Impacting earning potential and overall life chances. It doesn't have to be that way. With more than 50% of students with an EHCP plan in mainstream schools, the current system is letting children down who have special educational needs and disabilities. Schools of course are trying their best, but the truth is teachers feel ill- equipped to provide support for children with SEND. One teacher in Barking and Dagenham told me about the four hour training centre Mark -- seminar on SEND they attended. But that was their only training, followed by a sort of get on with it attitude from the education sector.

The lack of training means well- meaning teachers inevitably create an exclusive education environment. Resulting in 9/10 children with SEND being left behind. This is a two- tiered education system working against our children that have the greatest need. Early intervention must be at the core of the government's SEND strategy, but it won't be successful if it's left only to SENCOs and teaching assistants. This bill seeks to address that. For most schools, a dedicated SENCO in the schools senior leadership team is a nice to have rather than a must have.

Parents, certainly those I've met in my constituency, are often left wondering who they can turn to as they fight to get the support their child deserves. One parent in my constituency told me about the exhausting decade they've had fighting for an EHCP plan for their son, who has autism. After five years a school becoming too difficult challenge for her son once he started secondary school, in 2020 her little boy was referred by the NHS to neurology. But it took until 2024 for a doctor to confirm that he also had epilepsy, which was causing brain seizures resulting in short absences.

The point here is that the little boys mother made to me is that her child was clearly struggling at school for years, finding it difficult to focus. That was apparent before a 10 year fight to secure an EHCP for her son, which she only managed to do towards the end of his secondary school. This little boy was in mainstream school for 10 years, being taught by teachers with inadequate SEND training. His mother feels that equipped with better skills and training on SEND, teachers would have identified the need for her child sooner and they could have helped him earlier.

SEND support for children is a complete picture that requires input from different agencies. Parents must always be at the heart of any discussion and decision about SEND support for their child. This is especially true for the many children who will and do fall short of the statutory duty to secure an EHCP. With a lack of specialist support or training for staff in mainstream schools those children are too often left children are too often left For some children, access to SEND schools is an appropriate fit, but the majority of SEND children are in mainstream schools and therefore we must recognise that our school should fundamentally shift to being better equipped with teachers better trained to support children with SEND.

Because SEND children deserve to succeed in our mainstream schools. Being a good teacher and all professionals that look after and teach our children is a special kind of person. The responsibility they hold is greater than to any individual child. They are helping raise and educate the next generation in our communities and shaping our society. A society in which I want to see everyone, including those with SEND, thrive in and contribute to. This will support teachers to do their job properly.

They deserve adequate training to deliver the early help the children with SEND. I ask members from across the house for their support for this bill so that we can begin to fix the

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broken SEND system in this country. The question is that the

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The question is that the honourable member have leave to bring in the bill. I think the aye have it. Who will prepare and bring

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in the bill? Anna Dixon, Chris Ward, Chris

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Anna Dixon, Chris Ward, Chris Kane, Clive Betts, Danny Beales, Dawn Butler, Lloyd Hatton, Sarah

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Special Special educational Special educational needs Special educational needs and disabilities training in schools.

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Second reading, what day?

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Friday, 12 September. The clerk

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Friday, 12 September. The clerk will now proceed to read the orders of the day.

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Football governance bill, Lords, as amended in public bill committee to be considered.

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to be considered. We will begin with new clause 1 with which it will be convenient to
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None Portrait Legislation: The Football Governance Bill [Lords]: Remaining Stages
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consider the new clauses and amendments as listed on the selection paper.

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Thank you. I also put on record
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Louie French Portrait Mr Louie French MP (Old Bexley and Sidcup, Conservative)
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my thanks to Lord Tebbit for his life of service to both our country and our party. Be dearly missed by us all. In starting today's proceedings, I also draw members to my registry of interest. It is a privilege to stand at report stage to speak for the countless fans who filled the stands week in, week out and keep our clubs alive come rain or shine. And I would like to begin by putting on record my thanks for right honourable members for their contributions during the bill committee, and everyone who is engaged with the process outside of Westminster.

For all the high-torque regulators, quangos and corporate structures, let us never forget that football in this country is not an industry dream debt by officials with neat PowerPoint slides or Excel spreadsheets. It is a living tradition, part of who we are and the fabric of our nation, and that is precisely why we must be so careful now because this bill, well-intentioned though it may be, risks replacing one danger, a minority of reckless owners with another. Reckless political interference that risks the independence of sport.

It is a bill that wants to tackle cowboy owners by an incoherent government under investigation for appointing a Labour crony to be the new Sheriff of football and a department which has seen their whip resign since the bill committee. We really are in the

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thick of it. Would he like to join with me in

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Would he like to join with me in thanking his honourable friend the shadow Secretary of State for first shadow Secretary of State for first introducing legislation in this house which promoted an independent football regulator?

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football regulator? Is my noble friend says, you have

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Is my noble friend says, you have messed it all up, and I'm sure that doesn't apply just football. Before I move on to talk about amendments, it is worth reminding ourselves how we got here. English was not we got here. English was not invented by corporate lawyers or politicians. Its origins in the politicians. Its origins in the history and soles across the country. This is the same spirit that sees parents across the country drive through window and rain on a Sunday morning so the child can run Sunday morning so the child can run out in their club colours.

It is a out in their club colours. It is a spirit that is not a pair on balance sheets but without sustainable finances, there is no football at finances, there is no football at all. Sadly, as we have seen those cases where financial mismanagement and reckless spending has seen clubs and fans lose out. We focus on the and fans lose out. We focus on the long-term sustainability of the game. We support better fanny engagement, respecting the heritage of our clubs and strengthening ownership to help prevent the issues we have seen.

The final lead review stated that this area of regulation should in time be returned to the Football Association and Leeds. Having spoken to many football fans across the country and in my constituency, I can say with confidence that they would agree with this even more now that Labour is trying to directly interfere in English for my appointing a Labour crony. During the passage of this bill, we have heard from the likes of the FA and the Premier League they are concerned about regulatory groups, and we have sought today to push back on the tentacles of the socialist state seeking to strangle with redtape our beautiful game and this great British success story which attracts millions of fans around the world and contributes £8 billion to our economy each season.

This includes our amendments that would prevent the Secretary of State from expanding Leeds inscape under clause 2 without the approval of Parliament. We must give pub certainty and provide empire building. We must have transparency about how much these burdens are costing clubs and ticket prices, both today and in the future. This is why we have tabled amendments one, two and 28. It is the pound not spend on grassroots players, sentence maintenance or ticket prices. Every new bureaucrat is a tenner on match day cost and in the end, the fans pick up the tab just like always.

The government's own impact assessment suggests these costs will be more than £125 million with smaller clubs expecting a bill of 240 £7 million. We know that many smaller clubs will have no choice but to pass this onto fans, and the government and the regulator must be honest about it. As a house, we can also help limit these additional costs by supporting our amendments 22 and 23 which would limit the size of the regulator and The pay of the Chief Executive at the same levels of the Prime Minister.

The government states that once a regulator to be light-touch but vote against limits placed upon it. Which leads to the question of why. Why is the government saying one thing whilst doing the opposite in Westminster? Is it because it is an experience or is it the truth that this is yet another example of jobs for the boys at the cost of fans. That is why we have tabled amendments that would seek to limit interference into the independence of sport.

Firstly, we believe that should be consulted on any political statements made by clubs. Football clubs must not be mouthpieces for whichever fashionable cause of the time, and we believe that politics should be kept out of sport wherever possible. When a club speaks, is peeks for its fine and the local community. If it wants to do that matters beyond football, it should ask those fans first. Turning to my amendment which would remove the

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requirement. Would he mind us talking about

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Would he mind us talking about what these causes that we shouldn't talk about? I would happy to. We talk about? I would happy to. We have been quite clear that we do not believe that includes the likes of believe that includes the likes of remembrance. We believe that is different to political causes. But as I have said, we do not believe that clubs should be getting involved with politics, and that is a hell that we are willing to die a hell that we are willing to die on, but it does not include requirements.

Turning to schedule requirements. Turning to schedule five which would remove the requirement for additional EDI reporting, we all know that football must be welcoming to everyone. must be welcoming to everyone. Racism and bigotry have no place in terrorism or wider society. Football terrorism or wider society. Football has made huge progress by itself with a range of initiatives already with a range of initiatives already in the game on the quality code of in the game on the quality code of practice, antiracism education and mentoring schemes.

Game has done this not because a government this not because a government regulator told them to because it is right, it works and fans supported. Fans do not pay their hard and money Fans do not pay their hard and money to defund diversity paperwork. Our amendment leaves inclusion where it belongs, on the pitch, on the stands, and in the community. Turning to clause 7 a new clause 11, these amendments tabled in my name seek to ensure the exercise functions to avoid conflicts with the regulations and rules of international bodies.

FIFA and UEFA rules are clear, national associations must be free from undue vertical interference. Countries that break the rules have been banned before, just ask the Greek football committee. The government is sleepwalking towards a giant own goal and this time there is no VER to save us. We already know that Uefa has written to the Secretary of State to set out their concerns with the bill. This came after the government bought out an expanded area of the bell. One stems from the fundamental requirements which is that there should be no government interference in the running of football.

The Minister could not give us enough reassurance about government interfering with English for which is why I have re-tabled my amendment today. We know that Uefa is concerned and that the government regulator may expand its mandate beyond its loosely defined current competencies. This expansion into broader aspects of football governance could undermine the established structures and processes of the sport that amount to

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government interference. I give way. When he was in government, did he

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When he was in government, did he have any correspondence from UEFA and FIFA, and given the openness with which the shadow minister is with which the shadow minister is coming for, would he now published the previous government got in that correspondence?

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correspondence? This is quite a rehearsed line seeking to payout, but as we heard in the Bill committee, and the Ministry has sought to reassure the Ministry has sought to reassure the house that Uefa has no problems with the bill. That is the insurance he sought to give us, so if that is the sought to give us, so if that is the case, why is this not being laid on the floor of the house so that all the floor of the house so that all members can take this vote in pure confidence of what has been said, because what has been brought to the because what has been brought to the press differs from what the Minister is telling members today, and so for is telling members today, and so for his allowed to allow Parliament to see this letter so that we may see this letter so that we may properly scrutinise this bill in the fullest possible way and in the proper context.

So I ask again now, proper context. So I ask again now, what is she so afraid of? Is she scared that, given the Secretary of State is already under investigation for appointing one of her donors to for appointing one of her donors to the chair of the regulator, the publication of the letter will prove to be yet another now in the coffin of the regulator, won't it? Turning to schedule two, any regulator must be credible. That means independent beyond any doubt, but what have we seen? The preferred chair with a hidden political donation, a Secretary of State.

Accuse herself

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only once exposed, revolving door. And I ask him why the previous

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And I ask him why the previous government and his colleague sitting next to him on the Frontbench who is the Minister responsible at the time the Minister responsible at the time actively headhunted the individual in question and added him to the

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in question and added him to the shortlist because that is true. The Secretary of State has either

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The Secretary of State has either deliberately or not deliberately dismissed that because the gentleman dismissed that because the gentleman in question has already said.

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in question has already said. I understand that the shadow minister may not have meant to say that the Secretary of State deliberately misled the House. He

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may want to clarify that for the house. I reflect on that comment and I

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I reflect on that comment and I withdraw it. I don't know what the withdraw it. I don't know what the problem is. But the reality, they can scream and shout they want, is can scream and shout they want, is that the floor of the DCMS the chairman question said very clearly chairman question said very clearly that he was approached by civil servants not the minister in question, and the minister in question has already said on the floor of this house that he did not approach the said gentlemen, so maybe the secretary of state would also like to reflect on her comments.

This is a revolving door of vested interest ready to leap in. We would let the chairman of a rival club. You are already under investigation. I'm not sure you want to make this worse. We would let the chairman of a club referee a cup

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I'm sure the shadow Minister did

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I'm sure the shadow Minister did not mean to In-Fa I was under investigation. Apologise, you are not under

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Apologise, you are not under investigation, but the Secretary of State and the government is. That's State and the government is. That's a matter of public record. We wouldn't let the chairman of a rival club referee a cup final, why would club referee a cup final, why would we let people with political or commercial conflicts sit at the top of this football referee? Basic due of this football referee? Basic due diligence, no party has the chair and full declarations of conflicts and full declarations of conflicts to avoid the mess this government has got itself into.

Amendment 18 would put a stop to this cronyism would put a stop to this cronyism one central and give the public property. It is not radical, it is property. It is not radical, it is responsible. If we don't do it the regulator will fail before the first whistleblowers. We also re-tabled new clauses we still believe would new clauses we still believe would strengthen the bill. Let me begin with player welfare, players past with player welfare, players past and present who run onto that pitch every weekend and give us great every weekend and give us great entertainment.

But we can't ignore entertainment. But we can't ignore the fact that the two long player welfare has been left behind. We need to conduct a serious review within one year of this act passing on how we can better protect players, past present and future. The clause does not dictate solutions, it demands a serious evidence led review. It asks the secretary of state to bring governing bodies, medical experts, clerks and players together to ensure the beautiful game does not come at the cost of the minds and bodies of those who play it.

We hope the government listens. Last but not least, our new clause 1 would consult on calling full-time to the two-tiered approach to football fans. The alcohol ban that has been in place since 1985 was introduced to help curb hooliganism on the terraces during the problematic era of British football. 40 years on and with the modern game enjoying a more family friendly atmosphere across the country, clubs, fans and the Conservatives are urging the government to consult on lifting the ban on alcohol.

As football fans know, we have this legacy ban which sees fans rushing to drink beer before kick-off and at half-time. This leaves them delayed to enter the stadiums and overcrowding on concourses. Thus why we have listened to fans, especially those down the football pyramid, to end the two-tiered approach to football fans as part of the bill. This new clause has support across the House and we hope it will be supported today. In conclusion, we are all here today because we care about English rubble -- football, but the government's heavy-handed regulator.

I stand here today because I want to see football succeed, not nationalised by stealth. We want clubs safeguarded from dodgy owners, not strangled in red tape. You want fans to have a real say, not ticked off on a form buried in a filing cabinet. We want inclusion that works, not paperwork that gathers dust. Above all we want football to remain what it has always been, something built by the people, for the people, not for the political classes. Good regulation can help the referee, blowing the whistle when rules are broken, but not dictating every pass or free kick.

These amendments today seek to limit the damage of this bill, they park the bus against political overreach and let football play on. If like me members really love football, the pitches, the terraces, the songs that never change, then blow the whistle on the bad owners. We must also call time on Ministers who think they can better run leagues from Westminster. Football does not belong to the government, it belongs to the people who stand in the stands, shoulder to shoulder win or lose, let us do right by them today.
16:04
Stephanie Peacock Portrait Stephanie Peacock MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) (Barnsley South, Labour)
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Alcohol and football grounds, the question is that new clause 1 be read a second time. I call Minister Stephanie Peacock.

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Thank you. I'm pleased to be responding to the report stage of the Football Governance Bill as it enters its final stages in the House of Commons. I begin by sending condolences to the family of Liverpool player Diogo Jota who tragically lost his life last week at 28 years of age alongside his brother. I'm sure the whole House will send their thoughts to their will send their thoughts to their loved ones. English football is one of our proudest traditions, it's of our proudest traditions, it's more than just a game, football brings us together providing a source of local pride, uniting us in victory and loss.

The Premier victory and loss. The Premier League, the EFL, the National League, attracting some of the best players in the world. In return you players in the world. In return you can find fans of English football clubs in almost every country. Despite the global success story of English football there were English football there were English football there were underlying fragility is of the game that this Labour government is committed to tackling, as we are departing on the side of football fans. We have seen too many fans.

We have seen too many instances of irresponsible owners and financial models and financial and financial models and financial regulation casting shadows over too regulation casting shadows over too many clubs. Fans have issues that need resolving now and demonstrate the urgent need for this bill to become law. The change has been a long time coming, dating back in this place to 2011 with the cross- party Select Committee report. The ill-fated Super League attempt of course led to the Fan-Led Review, and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to the work of Ding Tracey Crouch who pioneered this work.



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Thank you for giving way. My right honourable friend mentions the right honourable friend mentions the Conservative Minister, basically the Tory party wrote the vast majority Tory party wrote the vast majority of this bill and then decided to vote against it. I'm confused, perhaps my honourable friend with perhaps my honourable friend with explain to me why this is a explain to me why this is a socialist bill and football is being nationalised. I think it's absolutely ridiculous.

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absolutely ridiculous. My honourable friend makes a good point. I hope that whoever wins the point. I hope that whoever wins the election on 4 July will see this as a good bill to crack on with because it's important for the future of football and crucially for the future of football fans. Not my words, but the words of the right words, but the words of the right honourable gentleman the member for Daventry, who I have a huge amount of respect and affection for.

Which of respect and affection for. Which brings me on to the points made by the shadow Minister, and the amendments that stand in his name. Amendment 14, the issue of listing competitions and scope of regulation competitions and scope of regulation on the face of primary legislation. The approach in this bill is consistent with other similar sports consistent with other similar sports legislations. The opposition's amendment would likely make this a hybrid bill, which would mean years of delay effectively killing the bill they introduced.

A bill that was in their manifesto. We have been absolutely clear that the regulator will be operationally independent of government. It will not exert any influence on the FA's autonomy to govern the game. The opposition spokesperson is obsessed with the publication of private communications with UEFA and FIFA, despite his obsession and his strong remarks about me at the Dispatch Box did his government published private correspondence? No, of course they didn't. I have been clear throughout that UEFA and FIFA have no issue with the bill currently drafted.

Amendment 25 is simply scaremongering on the part of the opposition. And it is curiously odd -- at odds with one of their other amendments, amendment 21. The football governance statement also concluded in the other governments bill allows the government on the day to set out priorities in relation to the regulator. This is no different to the strategic stays the government can and does give to other regulators like the Competition and Markets Authority, without undermining their operational independence. The statement will be published and laid before Parliament.

Alimentary approval is neither appropriate nor necessary, especially given the need to avoid political interference. Amendments 24 and 28 on levy extensions are simply not needed. The cost of regulation should not place an undue burden on clubs, costs should be transparent as set out in clause 54. Regulator already has the power to exempt clubs paying a levy through its levy rules.

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We had a long discussion in the Bill committee about understanding how much this regulator was going to how much this regulator was going to cost and how big it was going to be. But all the amendments we put But all the amendments we put forward were voted down. When will the Minister no that this thing has

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grown too big and cost us too much. I'm grateful to the honourable

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I'm grateful to the honourable gentleman service on the committee, we did have a very good debate. The impact assessment was approved by impact assessment was approved by the previous sport Minister. Turning the previous sport Minister. Turning to amendment 18, the government's codon appointments is clear that political activity is not a party appointment. David Kogan has been found a .44 the role by a panel found a .44 the role by a panel including a senior independent panel including a senior independent panel member agreed by the commission of public appointments and has now been endorsed by the DCMS committee adding a further layer of adding a further layer of robustness.

We will not set a new precedent by going further from the precedent by going further from the governance code on points as this amendment proposes. Amendments 19 amendment proposes. Amendments 19 and 20 are conflict-of-interest, if the interest of a border panel mentor would prejudice their ability to carry out their functions then the bill already captures this as a conflict-of-interest. Turning to the owners and directors test. Members of a proscribed organisation is an offence under the terrorist act, that offence is included in section 2 of the Serious Crime Act.

These offences would already be considered when testing the fitness of an individual. Amendment 15 is therefore not required. Amendment 17, reporting on equality diversity and inclusion is a key part of good corporate governance. Clubs will simply have to state what they are doing on the issue. Amendment 27 on charities, I know from my own area of Barnsley the brilliant work the Barnsley community trust do. And through changes in the other place the corporate governance code gives the legs ability to a club to detail what activity is taken to contribute to the economic and social well- being of the community.

This can include work for official charities or wider work in the community, therefore amendment 27 is not needed. Turning to new clause one which calls for a consultation on lifting the ban on consuming alcohol in view of the pitch. This is outside of the scope of the bill which is focused on sustainability of clubs and the game overall. I raised the issue with the Home Office, as I committed to do during the Bill committee, as it is there

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policy lead. Going... On the final point you made, does

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On the final point you made, does my honourable friend agree with me that we do need to look at alcohol sales but we need to do it with all sales but we need to do it with all stakeholders and in the round, not to be thrown in as a gimmicky way to this bill about finance and

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governance. She makes a good point, I have reflected those comments to the Home reflected those comments to the Home Office Minister. I'm going to speak to amendments in the name of the Liberal Democrat spokesman, the Liberal Democrat spokesman, the honourable member for Cheltenham. I would like to thank for his constructive approach to the scrutiny of this legislation and for scrutiny of this legislation and for his parties support. A number of his amendments are outside the scope of the regulator but I'm sure he will put on record some important and put on record some important and valid points, I will address some of the amendments now.

Free-to-air TV, the amendments now. Free-to-air TV, the government believes the current list of events works well and it strikes an appropriate balance between access to sporting events and allowing sports to maximise and allowing sports to maximise broadcasting revenue. In domestic football the present arrangements under the listed events ranging have protected key moments such as the FA protected key moments such as the FA Cup final while ensuring the Premier League, the EFL and the FAA to raise billions annually which is invested back into the pyramid.

We all want back into the pyramid. We all want to see more matches televised free- to-air, but that must be balanced against investment and not risk it. New clause 4, the golden share, we expect the regulator will welcome clubs taking any measure to improve fan engagement and protect club heritage including the golden share. The regulator will not mandate them to do so, which brings me onto the issue of fan engagement which has been raised by members for Cheltenham and the Cheshire shell seized -- south-east.

This government has strengthened fan engagement. The previous governance bill required club savvy framework in place to ensure that regularly meet and consult with a red presenter Dave -- representative group on matters of importance. We improve this by requiring fan engagement to continue even if a club enters into insolvency and introduced a requirement for consultation on ticket prices. We have not prescribed A1 size fits all approach the fan engagement. We expect the regulator to consult the FSA where appropriate on fan issues, I know the fan regulator is already engaging with them.

We don't want to place unmanageable burdens on clubs unnecessarily, that's when you close or isn't needed. The honourable member also tabled amendments on protection for home grounds, an issue recently discussed. Home grounds are vital assets for clubs, that's why the bill introduces protections to inappropriate clubs... Requiring approval before clubs sell grounds. First let me clarify the legislation uses the word disposal rather than sale for technical legal reasons. For example a club might sell a portion of the stadium rather than the whole stadium.

This is because a club might divest a shareholding or transfer interest in the stadium without amounting to a full sale. Under clause 46 in all instances regulator approval is needed the sale of a stadium by a club, a sale can only be approved if it would not undermine the sustainability of the club. If the club has nowhere to play a few years down the line that means the club may not be sustainable, the regulator is unlikely to approve the sale. I will give way.



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Would she indicate that she would

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Would she indicate that she would think the regulator looking into these matters would give fans a part

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these matters would give fans a part in the process in the normal way. Eight can very much indicate that. I am happy to meet the honourable gentleman to discuss it honourable gentleman to discuss it further. The issue of player

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further. The issue of player She addressed the amendments that my colleagues have put down, and my colleagues have put down, and that is the issue of degenerative conditions after time, so I was about she was about to say something about she was about to say something on this, but the proportion of footballers with these conditions is significantly greater compared to the general population, and so many the general population, and so many of them are left in a terrible situation and not supported by the Premier League.

What can regulator do to make sure that groups like football families the support they need to support those who suffer

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need to support those who suffer ?$$NEWLINE I appreciate that. I

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?$$NEWLINE I appreciate that. I know the gentleman has spoken on this issue, and I'm hugely synthetic to it. The safety welfare and well- being of everyone taking part in sport is absolutely paramount.

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The new regenerative disease is a real concern, and many people within the sport. I'm not sure whether that should be part of the governance bill with the biggest bill that bill with the biggest bill that there has ever been in our lifetime. It is a very serious issue. Can my honourable friend agree that this honourable friend agree that this needs to be looked at and that the government will look at this as a separate part of this bill because separate part of this bill because of the urgency and the fact that people up and down this country and people up and down this country and different levels of our suffering greatly as a result mainly of

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heading the ball. I know the honourable gentleman

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I know the honourable gentleman has done a huge amount of work on this, and I've heard call for members across the house. The Secretary of State and I worked with families including individuals associated with football families associated with football families for justice to discuss player safety for those with dementia. The government is committed to looking government is committed to looking further at this issue and supporting the families and football authorities to come together to address issues of lifelong consequences as well as post-career mental health and financial crises.

I'm afraid this amendment is not within the tight regulatory scope of the bell and that the government is aware for many former players and the families. This bill is focused on the financial sustainability of football clubs up and down the country. Too many fans have watched as their clubs make changes that they have no say on, selling the stadium, changing colours or in the worst case collapsing under inadequate ownership. This is unacceptable. It is devastating for fans and devastating for local communities.

It is this bill delivered by this Labour government will help protect one of our great sporting assets and ensure fans can focus on what is happening on the pitch rather than off it. Today, members across this house can vote against them, and today, we can deliver an independent football regulator. I commend this bill to the house. the house.
16:18
Max Wilkinson Portrait Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham, Liberal Democrat)
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We welcome this bill, as do all sides of the house until a few short months ago. Some of them even came up with the idea. Like many in the chamber today, we were disappointed that the consensus remains broken after an apparent direction from the Leader of the Opposition and that the Conservatives are chosen to turn their backs on the sustainability of football so dramatically. Perhaps it is time to sack the manager. While the timing government had much to desire, they had to claim a win because it was their idea.

It was initiated and they started this process. But now they missed a goal at Villa Park in 1992. If I was generous, I would say the performance and this bill has been like man United, throwing away a massive points lead only to finish with nothing. I fear for the shadow minister instead, but they are more like Spurs in 2060. They managed to finish third in a two horserace. I suppose coming third as a sort of result they need to get used to.

Throughout this process, we have been clear on our position. We are in favour of the principles of protecting the heritage of our national game. We are in favour of greater financial sustainability and fan involvement in the game. We applaud the government's approach in delivering that and we will support the bill at third reading later today. Because we remain consistent in our view. But we think this bill could go further. Let me begin with the issue of free air coverage. Through new clause 3, we are calling for key fixtures from the football calendar to be made on free to add television to this increase Premier League matches each season.

The league cup final and the play-off final in the championship lead one. The shadow minister might have an interest in this one because he might make the play-offs one day. These would complement the existing free to a marquee events, the World Cup and the Euros. This is not about broadcasters who are South and declining. This is an opportunity for broadcasters and the footballers to innovate and deliver a more direct route to accessing fans without a pay wall. By introducing more games, broadcasters could look at sponsorship to generate opportunities and to engage fans who are currently priced out of football, not just in the stadium but on television as well.

This approach is proving successful in other countries. LaLiga broadcast one Spanish top-flight match free to air helping to maintain widespread public engagement with the sport. With the rising cost of living and subscription services required now totalling around about £700 a year, making more matches available without a pay will would ensure the game remains accessible. Turning to the issue of fan representation.

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I think the honourable for giving way. Charlton did reach the play- way. Charlton did reach the play- offs and we were promoted to the championships. Happy to correct the record. On the broadcasting issue, what is the cost analysis that the Lib Dems have done on this issue in Lib Dems have done on this issue in particular, given that we know the Premier League already signed broadcast deals with others. What is

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the economic impact for those clubs? There is a huge amount of

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There is a huge amount of football going around in football and we know that when we get to the negotiations about contracts with the broadcasters and the leagues, these things are chunked up into these things are chunked up into packages and when the next contracts are up, this would be one of those packages. I don't see that there packages. I don't see that there would need to be any massive

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economic impact. Is a Scot, it might seem out that I want to intrude on this debate, but the health of English footballers valuable to us in footballers valuable to us in Scotland as well. With the member agree with me that if football is to agree with me that if football is to continue on the scale it is, it needs another generation to see it, to love it, and to want to take part, and the only really successful way of doing that with the two make it free to air to every household in this country at some point every week.



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The point here is that Jonesy and younger people than those in the younger people than those in the room today, and there are no gently as I look around, they consume sport and media in a very different way. and media in a very different way. Those of us, and out of touch. Those of us in the chamber today grew up watching football as a 90 minute watching football as a 90 minute game on television. Many of us on game on television.

Many of us on free to our. Today, youngsters will be watching clips on TikTok, and social media for so they will be social media for so they will be watching clips of people playing games on computers as well, and if we are to get the next generation involved, the easiest way to make sure they are entertained is by

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making football free to air. I do understand the point that the gentleman is trying to make, but the gentleman is trying to make, but on the point of cost, he suggests there wouldn't be a cost impact on the broadcasting rights because as the amendment states, this would be the amendment states, this would be required every season, and as such is highlighted in my previous is highlighted in my previous intervention, those already in place, swift members were to vote for this today, it would impact the

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deals already in play with the Premier League? I don't believe that has to be

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I don't believe that has to be the case, but we will see what happens later on if he votes for our new clause.

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new clause. Guess the first thing to say in response to the shadow ministers response to the shadow ministers point is that what we're doing here with free to air television and Premier League games, it is putting Premier League games, it is putting the shop and the sport window, so he is likely to bring more money than is likely to bring more money than the nonfree to our providers, but it is a reminder that what football is about as a community thing.

A live televised football match is a kind televised football match is a kind of communal events that everybody watches at the same time and it brings the country together, and that being on television and that being on television and accessible every week will be good, but also making sure that everybody but also making sure that everybody will do that, not just those with will do that, not just those with money. My friend is right, and I would say that the interest on this point suggests that we are perhaps onto something, add as the interest in the media today.

Turning to the issue of fan representation, we are proposing clauses 4 and five for supporters groups to protect clubs assets. The bill provides some against rogue football club owners, but the golden share concept would add extra protection from clubs by giving a recognise supporters trust or an equivalent democratic body over decisions that can alter the identity of the club. This will include relocating, changing the club's name, altering its primary colours or helping with the FA or the AFL.

This appears to drop somewhere off the way. We believe it is time to bring it off the bench because supporters are more than just paying customers. The other living breathing heart of their clubs. They carry the traditions, the culture, the local community. This would help increase democratic oversight and governance. The need for it is obvious when we look at past events. A fan held golden share would have blocked the move of Wimbledon to Milton Keynes. The golden share could have stopped Cardiff's kit being change from blue to red.

It is entirely right that investors and owners are part of the future. Have a massive stake in this but it is just important to protect those that have supported them through thick and thin. There is a balance of power that ensures fans are not sidelined by reckless or product decisions. But is at the heart of the aims of this bill.

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Three interventions and I have not mentioned Blackburn Rovers. With this government share allow fans to this government share allow fans to veto something like Blackburn Rovers decision to decide to cease funding decision to decide to cease funding their women's football team as they drop from the championships and the nonleague simply because the owners nonleague simply because the owners has decided it didn't want to pay

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any more. Women's football is outside the

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Women's football is outside the scope of this bill but I believe the golden share concept would cover that sort of decision. I agree with that sort of decision. I agree with him. Now, moving on to an C7, football is one of cornerstones of football is one of cornerstones of British culture and it should never be used by individuals or regimes to cleanse their reputations or cleanse their reputations or distract from human rights abuses. That is why we have tabled an amendment aimed at strengthening rules for football clubs.

Prospective ownership face clear and enforceable tests that include human enforceable tests that include human rights considerations. These would help safeguard not only the values that underpin our national support but also the democratic principles but also the democratic principles that we as a country and all of a sudden this house stand for. It cannot be right that we welcome with open arms those people who preside over oppressive regimes or who are linked to activity that reaches the values we hold so dear. If football club is owned, links to those that breach law, can we say that our national game or this country should be hosting them? We think not.

That is why we have submitted this new clause. Moving on to pay a welfare which has been mentioned by others, we put forward amendment three which would provide support to footballers suffering from neurodegenerative orders and the long-term effects often go unnoticed. Nobby Stiles and others give the best yet the sport and it is a disgrace that many people are now for left facing devastating illnesses without the support that they need. Our amendment would require the football industry to allocate a small share of considerable wealth to those affected.

The work must be recognised here today, and I want to look at gambling in football clubs. Gambling -related harm is widespread and deeply damaging. Fans watching football today are bombarded with adverts encouraging betting from TV commercials to sports and shared championships. Gambling in football has become overwhelming and dangerous. Gambling firms spend a lot of money on advertising, much of it directed at football fans. It's unacceptable, but football fans are having their game irrevocably linked There are estimated to before hundred gambling-related suicides annually.

We are not advocating free gambling ban in football, in conclusion the bill is a important step forward for the national game. We welcome it. The read full game needs defenders in Parliament. We must make the game more accessible for fans, we must protect the club, Heritage and ensure democratic fan engagement. We must support retired players suffering neurological diseases and we must stand up to the gambling industry's grip on our national support. -- National sport. It is importantly for the future for our national game.

I hope members across the house and Ministers will consider this in future. I will finish this saying we will vote for new clause 1.

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With a six-foot minute time limit -- six minute time limit, the Minister.

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Minister. I begin by echoing the frontbench tribute to Diogo Jota whose life was
16:31
Chris Evans Portrait Chris Evans MP (Caerphilly, Labour )
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tribute to Diogo Jota whose life was lost last week. He lit up the pitch for Liverpool and Wolves, it makes us realise how short life is. Days earlier he was celebrating his wedding. I would like to begin by paying tribute to the former member for Pugsley who did so well in constructing this bill while in government. It's a shame the new member for Daventry doesn't agree with him. This bill was born out of Fan-Led Review. But the question we have to ask is when we are talking about a Football Governance Bill footballers need to be at the heart of it.

It is players who quicken the pulse, it is those that provide the memories we cherish forever from childhood to now. Those memories we pass on to our children. Therefore, I wish to speak in favour of new clause 13, my amendment speaking to a neurodegenerative scheme. And the member for Leeds Central new clause 6. If fans are to be at the heart of this review then the game will be nothing without the players. I broadly support this bill, but it can be made better.

And if it can be made better then we should do that. Discourse around this bill is often around Independent Football Regulator being a safeguard for fans and clubs. It also should be a safeguard for ex-players and their families. If the neurological conditions and illnesses are most likely caused by their career in football. This bill neglects unfortunately ex-players and families who are affected by conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motoneuron disease. They must be supported through the creation of an Independent Football Regulator.

It's evident the effects of a career in football are long lasting. Footballers are for five times more likely to die from neurodegenerative conditions, often result of persistently heading the ball. The Independent Football Regulator must establish a scheme for providing a hand -- high standard of care. Players and families dedicate themselves to the game, it's only fair they are looked after. It should not be only the burden to pay. Footballers already generate 8 billion annually, contribute 4 billion in tax and

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support 100,000 jobs. I agree with him, in fact he and

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I agree with him, in fact he and I were at the football families for justice event we hosted a few months justice event we hosted a few months ago. I think most people aren't ago. I think most people aren't aware that not all footballers make thousands and thousands of pounds a week. This is absolutely the least week. This is absolutely the least we can do to ensure that the pleasure they have given us is responded to when they find responded to when they find themselves afflicted with a neurological condition, such as neurological condition, such as Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's.

So I do hope that the government will be listening and supporting will be listening and supporting this amendment. Thank you.

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this amendment. Thank you. I thank the honourable Lady for her support and her intervention. It her support and her intervention. It brought it home to me on how much brought it home to me on how much players earn, Jonny Giles the great Leeds midfielder from the mid-'70s showed me his contract when he was first playing for Manchester United. It was £12 in summer, summing up how It was £12 in summer, summing up how much they were paid then. The event that was attended by Kevin Keegan and Chris Sutton and others, Barry Fry, came across was the complaints about the professional footballers Association.

And I raise this ad Second Reading I was bombarded with a number of emails from the public affairs arm saying I've got it all wrong. But it's their members who are complaining about them, it's their members saying they are not servicing them properly. They should ask why that is happening. This is their members who have paid in over the years, if they are questioning the way they are treated then questions need to be answered. According to the new clause the Secretary of State must set a minimum requirement for the scheme, a timescale for the establishment of the scheme, and a periodic review of the scheme.

Furthermore organisers should joint operate, manage and fund schemes with the formation of a joint committee. Any current or former players with is eligible for the scheme. This goes beyond football funny. If something like research is discovered which helps dementia or Parkinson's or motoneuron disease than the rest of society wins. This is something football can lead and change society with. This would provide crucial care and financial support for any thousand who suffers a neurodegenerative condition which is deemed to because by playing football.

A panel of independent experts must determine whether a neurodegenerative condition has been caused by or contributed to by playing or training activities within the Football League's. They will also determine appropriate care and financial support required in each case. The Independent Football Regulator must ensure the joint committee acts on powers of determinations to ensure ex-players and families get the support they need. This is a matter of urgency. Ex-players who give so much joy should be treated with dignity, respect and supported when they need to be.

This amendment ensures that. I pay tribute to campaigners like I pay tribute to campaigners like Michael Giles, son of Jonny, Jon -- Jon styles. They campaigned with dignity and respect and quiet determination. It's time we showed the same respect to them. Denying a link between football and neurodegenerative conditions will neurodegenerative conditions will not suffice. We also had a player, Bobby Charlton died with dementia, and Nobby Stiles. The connection between football and neurological conditions acquired later in life must be addressed in this bill, if it is not it must be addressed somewhere else.

This government, especially a Labour government, should treat injuries caused by or contributed by football or any other industrial injury. That's what my amendment looks to. On this side we are the party for workers. Regardless of what industry they are in it is our job to support and protect them. Especially as the union, in their words, lets them down. Since football has contributed so much to our economy and more personally to fans happiness, it's only common decency to support players when they are in need.

It cannot be ignored any longer. Not only must support be provided, but the Independent Football Regulator must be there for them.

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I rise to speak against the new

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I rise to speak against the new clauses in my name, and to lend my support to several of the new clauses some have already been spoken about by my honourable spoken about by my honourable friends across the house. New clause 6 about financial abuse, mismanagement or fraud and mismanagement or fraud and protecting the players. And new clause 13, which my right honourable friend just spoke about regarding neurodegenerative care schemes. Football should never be a luxury. It should be a shared national It should be a shared national experience, accessible to families, young people, lifelong fans.

But more and more it's becoming a more and more it's becoming a commodity. Again that was built by an for the working classes, now priced out of reach for the very priced out of reach for the very people who gave it life. If I wanted to attend the first Premier League
16:40
Iqbal Mohamed Portrait Iqbal Mohamed MP (Dewsbury and Batley, Independent)
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game in August I would be looking at paying over £200 for two tickets on the secondary market. That's before you factor in travel or food or the cost of living. It's a huge sum, for most it is simply unaffordable. Football is becoming a luxury experience not a communal one. Historically, football thrived because it was accessible. Its rise alongside the expansion of the rail network allowed working people to follow their teams home and away, it became more than just a sport it became a pillar of community, identity and pride.

Fans, the heartbeat of this sport, being pushed to the margins. Current ticketing systems is pricing them out. That's why I tabled new clause 8, which introduces a duty on club organisers to ensure fair access and greater transparency in ticket sales especially in reselling tickets where fans are not able to attend. We are seeing ticket prices skyrocket while ticket platforms rake in obscene profits. This amendment helps us monitor the secondary market and offer retail channels to stop fans getting ripped off and scanned.

Fans should know the real face value of the ticket and have a safe and fair way to buy and resell. No more profiteering, no more shadowy resale platforms. The price of attending Premier League games is beyond the means of most fans, even more so if you want to share that experience with family members. I should declare an interest as a lifelong Liverpool fan, and I do share my condolences to the family of Diogo Jota and his brother who tragically died recently.

While I may be biased in thinking it's the greatest club in the world, I also say with pride Liverpool has shown what fan-led leadership looks like. Following discussions with the supporters board, a model of engagement and sensitivity of supporters that deserves recognition. Not every club takes this approach and that's exactly the problem. This is a culture we want to see rolled out across the country, one where fans are not an afterthought but at the centre of decision-making. My amendment makes that approach a requirement, not just a gesture of requirement, not just a gesture of goodwill.

This leads me to my second proposal, new clause 14 which introduces mandatory vetting of foreign financial investment in football. This is about protecting the soul of English football from the corrosive influence of dirty money. We have seen firsthand how vulnerable clubs struggled under massive debt, becoming easy targets for opportunistic investors looking to launder their reputation or gain geopolitical influence. I have raised this before, sportswashing is now one of the most insidious trends in football. Where once it might have brought to mind the 1936 Berlin Olympics, today the UK is at the top of that list.

That should shame as. I repeat the example I gave in the first speech on this topic, where Abramovich's ownership of Chelsea was seen as a huge success for the club that had hit his ties to be Russian state and close relationship with Putin, which should have raised huge financial and ethical concerns but were overlooked. For years he used our game to rebrand himself, shifting attention away from questions about the origins of his fortune. It was only until the fortune.

It was only until the invasion of Ukraine that real action was enforced. This shows exactly why was enforced. This shows exactly why we need stronger safeguards to stop this happening again. The amendment empowers for the Independent Football Regulator to block investment from funds linked to money-laundering, criminal finance, human right abuses or any breaches of UK or international law. That is the bare minimum. If Amnesty International or other watchdogs have flagged the source of funds for abysmal human rights record, that should be a red flag not a redcarpet four the potential owner.

Let's be honest, fans sometimes embrace foreign investment out of desperation. But the Independent Football Regulator should protect the game from nefarious funds and nefarious owners. This isn't just about bad actors and a broken system, club owners may not see the need for regulation. So we are not just protecting finances, we are protecting values. If this bill and the independent regulator failed to prevent abuse of football institutions by criminal and oppressive regimes it will continue and we will have failed the public and we will have failed the public

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duty. -- Clive Betts. This bill is crucial because football has failed to regulate itself. It's key to introducing the sustainability of our great game sustainability of our great game going forward. The first aspect of it which I really commend is the it which I really commend is the moves to give the regulator powers
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Clive Betts Portrait Mr Clive Betts MP (Sheffield South East, Labour)
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moves to give the regulator powers to ensure a distribution of money throughout the pyramid. It is unfair that monies concentrated on a handful of clubs at the top while others are struggling at the bottom. To remove the enormous cliff edge between the Premier League and the championship. I thank the Secretary of State and the sports Minister for listening to concerns raised about the powers of the regulator with regard to the backstop, and improving the backstop both in terms of scope and process as this bill has gone through.

They have listened and acted, that's really welcome and acted, that's really welcome The other aspect of the bell is how the bill gives the regulator power to deal with bad owners, not just the first instance when buying a club but once they are in charge of the club, and I thank the Minister for setting out the powers will have two deal with owners when they can no longer be seen to run a club properly to intervene and take that responsibility for the club, and it will be helpful to put that in the library.



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I am grateful to my friend, and as a lifelong fan, I am grateful to as a lifelong fan, I am grateful to him for hosting the Sheffield Wednesday supporters trust yesterday and his leadership on this issue. and his leadership on this issue. What was reflected back to us by the supporters trust is how unfair the supporters trust is how unfair the current situation is that the club and the fans are punished when and the fans are punished when irresponsible owners are behaving

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irresponsible owners are behaving appallingly and not putting the club and the fans first. My friend is absolutely right.

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My friend is absolutely right. The real problem is around helpful what powers will be, and we are left with the situation with no regulator and doubts about what the EFL can do in this regard. I know my friends in this regard. I know my friends from Reading and Woodley will be involved in the supporters trust involved in the supporters trust their I can go through and tell us all the problems that they have experienced. We have got similar experienced.

We have got similar problems at present. We have been through it with Derby as we know, through it with Derby as we know, and the shadow Secretary of State will know about Wigan and their difficulties. The situation is absolutely dire. The owner fails to pay wages for three months in the course of this year. It is not just the players. Some of whom may be worse off but the staff, the administrative staff and all those people haven't been paid for two months in some cases.

They haven't paid HMRC on two occasions, and it is very clear that he simply ran out of money, so what actions can EFL take? We welcome the investigation that they are conducting into what is going on at Hillsborough, but it is very clear that while funding the club, he has now run out of money. There has been 1 billions analysis of his companies in Thailand. The owner has got companies, but by and large, they are now losing money, so yes a table to fund the club so where is the money coming from to keep it going in the last few years? Has he borrowed the money? Who has he borrowed it from? He has turned down many approaches to sell the club on and is demanding questions for it.

Is he borrowing money coming from sources that aren't reputable? I don't know. I am not making an accusation. The only person who can clarify is the EFL investigator, and as my friend says, we want to find out what is happening to be transparent, and open with what they knew about the whole issue, and why they have a business plan in March? I was later, he failed to pay wages saying he was financially sustainable. He had two engagements with fans, five hours each of engagement and never mentioned his problems about funding the club wants, but what we don't want to happen now is for EFL to cumin and the only actions to punish the club with embargoes and price reductions to the point where a sustainable sale isn't possible, so I say now, the only hope we have got to the regulator comes in, please work with the fans trust and others, tell us what you knew, tell us what you know now, and tell us what we have been doing because this is a disgrace.

A club of this stature should be reduced to this situation. We have heard today that the city council in Sheffield has issued a directive that work has to be done on the North stand roof otherwise they will close part of the season, but the club has known about that for three years. This is an appalling situation, so I just say to my friends, please will you talk to the EFL about how far you can work with him as far as the situation.

I welcome the commitment going forward, and I will just say that the regulator must have the powers to intervene if he feels that competitions are important, and I thank her engagement throughout the process.

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Thank you. I rise to speak in favour of the amendments laid down by my honourable friend for Cheltenham, specifically in C3 and Cheltenham, specifically in C3 and and C4. I will start by outlining why these fan centric measures are important this particular fan and why football is important to me. Football has been the most constant
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Bobby Dean Portrait Bobby Dean MP (Carshalton and Wallington, Liberal Democrat)
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Football has been the most constant thing in my life. When I was a young boy, my uncle called me stat out because I used to study teletext for every bit of football information I could get, league tables, top scorers, transfer moves, and I would relay it to my family until I annoyed all of them. It was also the central bond with my grandparent, pops. So much so that when he passed, I took his ashes down the Tottenham high Road and laid them on the foundations of the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

It's probably the most frequent conversation I have with my dad and it's probably the thing that glues all of my friendship networks together as well. I have to confess that being a politician was not my first career choice, just like every young boy, I thought I could be a footballer and despite hours of effort, I was never going to be good enough, but I never gave up. I played football throughout my university years and formed many of my friends that way.

After that, we didn't want to stop and setup an alum nightclub and carried on going, and eventually, I joined a football club of which I am wearing the club tie today and I still play on a Saturday, except for weekends when I am injured. And I would say that those moments in Benton Park are one of the only moments where I get to switch off from all of this, and my teammates would say that I probably also switch off too much on a Saturday and the winner runs past me.

And then there is the watching of football, the lunacy of me football, the lunacy of me continuing to watch. The journey is brutal when you lose the number of games at Tottenham lost this year, and yet, in the same season where I had all of that misery, I had one night last month was probably one of the best nights of my life to date, and as much as football? Misery and supplying nights like that all in one go.

The centrality of football to people's lives is what makes this bill so important, and people have felt in recent years that the game has drifted away from them, and some people's reaction to that to say it is the way it is, but I'm glad that this bill is saying that we won't be resigned to that fact, and we will fight and stop that drift and bring it closer to fans again. That brings me to the amendment on the golden share. And I think this is particularly important because it will lock in fans voices by democratically elected organisations.

That will mean that clubs won't be able to simply pay lip service when it comes to the development with fans. There will be real powerful fans with their presence inside the clubs, and this doesn't go anywhere near as far as it does in other countries, but it is an important protection. The other one is an C3, we have spoken that at length with the free to air element, and I understand why there is a bit of controversy around it and why the Secretary of State will say that it works well.

Works well for who? It works well for the Premier League but I'm not sure it works well for all fans, and it won't be going as far as LaLiga who broadcast the game every single week. Let's not kid ourselves, we're talking about 10 games out of 750. 1% of the games that are available. It will make it so much more accessible for the next generation of fans to be able to access those games. The Premier League is a global attraction but it is also English Football League sports.

We should be able to get Inge's fans to watch those games. I could go on to support different elements of this bill, but I will express my support for N Care Quality Comission as well because I think that is important to do, but I will end with this quote from Bill Nicholson. He says that we must always consider our supporters for without them, there would be no professional football. It will be better to have more fans watching football the way we like it played rather than have fewer fans watching football the way that we would like it played.

And I think those are important words we should all reflect on when passing this bill

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today. It is a real pleasure to speak in

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It is a real pleasure to speak in support of this bill today because we stood on a manifesto that promised to establish an independent regulator to ensure financial sustainability for football clubs in England, and today, we will be delivering on that promise for football fans across the country, football fans across the country, regardless of the club they support, noting that, of course, Doncaster Rovers are the only team worth Rovers are the only team worth noting. Doncaster Rovers unites the community of my constituency and hold a special place in all of our hearts, and local artist Martin Black will be releasing a song for Black will be releasing a song for charity called this is our city soon and it is about hometown pride that
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Sally Jameson Portrait Sally Jameson MP (Doncaster Central, Labour )
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stems from supporting your local team and encapsulates what grassroots football really means. This government recognises the importance of fans of the football industry and we are putting them at the heart of the game once more. We should never risk losing the beloved club because of financial instability stemming from mismanagement and reckless spending that we have heard about in the debate earlier this year. But I would also like this opportunity to highlight the need to support football players in all leagues after their career.

John Stiles, son of the 1966 legend Nobby Stiles is one of my constituents. I first met John in one of my earliest surgeries not long after I was elected to discuss his involvement with the football families for Justice campaign which, as we found today, focuses on supporting ex-footballers and their families when they face devastating neurodegenerative disease as a result of their football careers, and I want to pay tribute to John in the chamber today and for all the work he has done on this campaign, being a leader in this area.

Research shows ex- footballers are four or five times more likely to suffer from conditions like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, motoneuron disease and other similar diseases, and unfortunately, this was the case for Nobby, and it is saddening that this industry, an industry with such a vast amount of wealth offer so little support to ex-footballers when they face those unforeseen health impacts from their time on the pitch. I understand there is a scope of the bell which means that some of the suggested changes aren't currently in legislation, but I would like to ask the Minister and the Department to give further thought to the adequacy of support that is provided to ex-footballers and their families when facing neurodegenerative diseases, particularly as has been referenced that not all footballers are earning £1 million every year, and many earn have relatively short careers.

The football industry is carried on the skill and sacrifice of its players as well as its fans, and it is disappointing that the industry doesn't really recognise this, and even just a small portion of the wealth that is made, if that was made available more easily and was accessible to players, and supported ex-professionals, it would go a long way to delivering justice for these players and their loved ones, and I hope to continue my engagement with the Minister on this and with the department going forward.

I do however welcome this bill. This will ensure an approach by implementing regimes, tackling owners and directors, and I'm pleased that the bill has the support of club Doncaster in my constituency, and on their behalf, I want to remind the importance of ensuring that these regulators provide objective and competent oversight of the governance model because clubs in their system deserve financial sustainability to protect the heritage of Inge football. Football is part of our culture, our history, and with the recent and well- deserved promotion of Johnny Rovers, I am pleased that this government is taking the steps to protect its

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I support new clause 13 and amendment 29. On behalf of one of my constituents, the former Arsenal goalkeeper, I'm grateful to Jon for goalkeeper, I'm grateful to Jon for bringing to my attention the growing number of ex-players now suffering number of ex-players now suffering from CTE, a form of dementia caused by repeatedly heading the ball. by repeatedly heading the ball. Retired footballers are over three times more likely to suffer from dementia than the general population. CTE is a progressive and a reversible disease that leads individuals suffering from memory loss and unable to carry out basic
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John Whitby Portrait John Whitby MP (Derbyshire Dales, Labour)
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loss and unable to carry out basic activities. As a result carers have to endure watching their loved ones gradually lose themselves. The modern game is awash with money. 6.7 billion, however despite the huge sums available only one club has committed to support players suffering neurodegenerative diseases. The situation has left players such as World Cup winner Nobby Stiles having to sell their medals to fund their care. Footballers have always been paid comparatively well, but players from the 60s, 70s and 80s and nothing like modern stars.

They are short careers. It's also worth highlighting that this issue may not be going away, although football is -- footballers are not as heavy as they used to be in the past, football's travel faster. So in solidarity with football families for justice I joined them in calling for legislation to be enacted that will ensure the competition organisers are required to provide funding towards neurodegenerative care schemes. Unfortunately unless competition organisers are made to do it the belief is that they won't.

Just as the Football Governance Bill seeks to protect fans from profit driven ventures such as the creation of new Super Leagues, it's right that the bill should also protect players who gave so much to make the game what it is. I'm encouraged by what the Minister has said on this matter. We rightly hear that football is nothing without the fans. The fans only turnout for the players. Football needs to support them.
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Clive Efford Portrait Clive Efford MP (Eltham and Chislehurst, Labour)
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I would like to (in the Secretary of State and the sports Minister on bringing us to this point, and listening to those arguments about how we treat the vast resources that come in through TV deals and distribute that throughout the football pyramid, and in particular giving the regulator powers if it deems it necessary and I hope he will if we don't get an agreement between the English Football League and the Premier League about parachute payments.

Which really affects competition, particularly in the championship, that needs to be addressed in this bill and I congratulate them for doing it. I would like to support my honourable friend for Sheffield Central, south-east, to his new clause and amendments. What it deals with is how we identify the people who really began this journey, the smallest fans. It started with the Super League and the fans reaction to it, they were determined to stop clubs breaking away from the Premier League and forming a Super League with other clubs from across the with other clubs from across the globe.

The reaction of fans shocked the Conservative government at that time into action, and they couldn't really resist. So it's the power of fans that has brought us to this point. We need to understand how we identify bona fides fans supporting a club and consult them in how we regulate the game going forwards. My honourable friend is attempting to do that in some of his amendments. Also he identifies an important factor, one about assets. And how we prevent assets being attractive to those people who look to take over a club, not because they are interested in football in anyway but because they see assets of value that they can make money out of.

And by running clubs into the ground they seek to then use those assets for profit. What my honourable friend is trying to do, using the asset of community Value powers or something similar, is to prevent that from happening. So I commend his amendments, if they are not passed or voted on tonight I certainly commend them to the regulator to take heed and have cognisance of what my honourable friend is attempting to achieve here. The other amendment I have added my name to is new clause 1.

I think the shadow Minister opposite is onto something here. Why do we treat other sports differently to football? Why is it football that singled out? I think you know the story of that, but it's been a long time since it was looked at. There's nothing unreasonable about asking clubs and the football community to look at whether we can relax those rules in certain circumstances, where clubs want to do it they can do it and they should do it in partnership with fans.

And I think having a review of that is not a bad thing to do et al. So I really do think this is a giant leap forward for football in this country, and I commend my honourable friends on the frontbench for what they've frontbench for what they've

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achieved. I wish the bill a wind. It's an immense privilege to rise

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It's an immense privilege to rise again to support this important bill on its passage through Parliament. I want to draw particular attention to want to draw particular attention to amendments 10 and 11 in the name of the member for Sheffield South East, the member for Sheffield South East, which would require as part of a clubs operating licence or their home ground to be designated as an asset of community Value. I want to recognise remarks made by the Minister in opening on the safeguards already in the bill to safeguards already in the bill to protect home grounds.

A club stadium protect home grounds. A club stadium is more than it stands, plastic seats, plastic turf and woodwork. It has a spirit. It's part of the clubs has a spirit. It's part of the clubs identity. It has memories, highs and lows. Soaked up in its walls. We lows. Soaked up in its walls. We must protect these important assets
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Connor Naismith Portrait Connor Naismith MP (Crewe and Nantwich, Labour)
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must protect these important assets for the community. In many cases, a club's stadium is inherently a valuable place, it can form a link between the sport and the identity of the town or city it sits within. The morn flake stadium is both named after an iconic historical milling business and produce of breakfast foods founded in 1675, but also sits overlooked by the railway lines that gave birth to the town. Similarly, Nantwich town stadium sits on the banks of the city weaver which links them to the town and beyond.

I strongly believe we should go further to strengthen the links between clubs and communities. That's why was delighted to join Stuart Price, Trevor Griffiths and Aaron Lewis on the fantastic podcast dedicated to fans for Alexander FC. We discussed exactly how we might work in partnership. I'm delighted to work with the podcast and the key stakeholders in the town to commission a bridge to the town stadium and the town centre. I would have course extend an early invitation to the Secretary of State and the Minister, who I know has only just been in my constituency to open a boxing gym but she is welcome to come back if we are successful in commissioning that morale.

-- Mural. I think it's a great shame that the Conservative party have thus far joined forces to try and frustrate the process of this bill, despite the Minister saying reform are not here. I have to say there any on the benches. Our game needs the independent football regulator. The Football League needs it. And yes, I believe the Premier League needs it as well. If members opposite are in any doubt, I would encourage them to read the case for Independent Football Regulator written by Carew Alexandra supporters.

It sets out in illuminating clarity why this change in law is needed and why members on both sides of the House should be in no doubt that fans in my constituency, and I'm sure in theirs, want this change. I encourage them to think carefully about what fans in their own constituency think before committing.

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Thank you. As someone born and
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Baggy Shanker Portrait Baggy Shanker MP (Derby South, Labour )
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Thank you. As someone born and raised in Derby I know how deeply our football club runs through the heart of our city. Derby County is more than just the team, it represents our identity, our pride and the strength of our community. But like so many in this House, I also know what it feels like when the identity is put at risk. In 2021, Derby County entered administration. The confusion, lack of transparency that followed made it much harder for everybody involved, including those of us working behind-the-scenes, to help working behind-the-scenes, to help secure the clubs future.

It was only thanks to the extraordinary actions of a local man and lifelong fan, David Cloud, that the club was saved. One example that highlights the need for stronger oversight is the attempted takeover of Derby County by Chris Kirchner. Despite initial approval it became clear Kirchner was not a fit and proper person to run the club. His financial shortcomings and failure to meet deadlines led to the takeover attempt collapsing. Later, Kirchner was convicted of fraud- related charges in the US with his business dealings and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

That is why I welcome the Football Governance Bill. This legislation offers the protections that clubs like Derby County need, and so many others

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across the EFL. Whilst the facial expressions on the party opposite worth an the party opposite worth an intervention all on its own, I intervention all on its own, I wonder if my friend agrees with me that this bill provides stronger financial oversights, increased fan involvement, and protects club heritage and increases transparency heritage and increases transparency and accountability. The reason the party opposite oppose it is because they are alien concepts to them.

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they are alien concepts to them. Thank you to my honourable friend for that intervention. I think both faces say at all. I will talk little faces say at all. I will talk little more about his content in a moment. The EFL have needed this bill and The EFL have needed this bill and they want this bill. It will establish the Independent Football establish the Independent Football Regulator, introduce proper financial oversight, and finally require clubs to engage seriously require clubs to engage seriously with fans who give the clubs their life.

We don't need to look far to life. We don't need to look far to see that these problems are ongoing. They are happening in front of our eyes, my own chief of staff is a eyes, my own chief of staff is a devoted Sheffield Wednesday fan and he's deeply troubled by the instability and uncertainty instability and uncertainty surrounding her club like so many fans she sees an owner who clearly doesn't have the resources required to run the club appropriately. I want to pay tribute to my honourable friend member for Sheffield South East for the work he has done, and continues to do, to stand up for fans and the future of their beloved Sheffield Wednesday.

This bill is not just a policy proposal, it's a vital step towards a and more sustainable future for our national game. Clubs in the EFL will lose around £450 million this season alone, the level of instability is damaging and dangerous. We have already seen what happens when things go wrong, from Bury to Bolton to Reading. The pattern is clear and it cannot be allowed to continue. The EFL once the bill, clubs across the league wants the bill, and most importantly fans want Bill.

I asked why the Conservatives don't. What makes it even more frustrating is the political opportunism that we are seeing. The Conservative party when in government brought forward a bill that is almost identical to the one we are debating today. Now in opposition they seem prepared to vote against it, not because of the policy changing but because the politics of change. That's not leadership, that's putting party before the future of our clubs and the communities they serve. The truth is this.

There is more than enough money in the English football to sustain the entire pyramid. The problem is how that money is distributed. Last year 25 clubs received 92% of the games revenue. While 67 other clubs were left to While 67 other clubs were left to The regulator will have the tools to fix that and ensure that clubs are run properly, sustainably, and in the best interest of the people they represent. This bill is a chance to safeguard the heritage, the future, and the very soul of English.

I support it proudly on behalf of Derby and I urge colleagues from all over the house to do the same. Let us Protect the Game.

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I register my interest. Today, I rise with a sense of relief because Reading football club has finally been sold. And I was one of been sold. And I was one of thousands in the stadium that sits in my constituency of early and in my constituency of early and Woodley that weekend, we heard the sale had finally gone through. The relief and joy was palpable and we relief and joy was palpable and we all chanted we've got our Reading back.

That was the last game of the season and given that the right honourable member for Barnsley South is sitting right there on the Frontbench, I will not mention the Frontbench, I will not mention the score. As one of relief for our sale, share deep frustration because we should never have had to fight this hard to save our club, and I'm so glad to welcome a number of so glad to welcome a number of Reading fans who are with me in the gallery today who travel to Parliament to witness this historic Parliament to witness this historic piece of legislation.

Just a few short months ago, our club, one of the oldest English Football League on the brink of expulsion from
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Yuan Yang Portrait Yuan Yang MP (Earley and Woodley, Labour)
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on the brink of expulsion from English Football League, and our club design was driven by the governments failure, by ownership, and by the ultimate toothless of the existing lack of regulation. This close to leading our club, not just relegation but to administration or even insolvency. And in the worst weeks, it felt like I was calling the EFL almost every other day, trying to find a solution. Thankfully, our club was finally sold, but it could have gone the other way, and far too many clubs, for then it has gone the other way.

Over 50 clubs in the top six tiers of the English men's game have gone into administration since 1992, and that shows that the game is in deep need of repair. Even today, clubs like Sheffield Wednesday suffer from this, as well as my honourable friend that I welcome to the house. Yet it should not be up to MPs and fans to mount these rescue campaigns. Fans shouldn't have to organise petitions, stage protests or become forensic accountants to hold the owners to account.

And yet Reading fans did everything from marching in the streets to working with members across this house. Over 10,000 fans sign my permission to hold an enquiry into the absent owners. Many came to watch the debate I led in March. And I even had the assistance of fans to help me pour over complex corporate structures for Reading football club in the hope of finding legal solutions. Meanwhile, I spoke with EFL met with a shadow regulator. So I'd like to say a big thank you for the NGO fair game in all the MPs who worked with all parties.

The burdens placed on supporters by all of us was enormous, emotionally, financially and physically. Fans shouldn't have to go this and we need stronger regulation. As I said before, any regulator must pass the Reading test. They must have the power to disqualify unfit owners and crucially, to force a sale when the future is at rest, so I want to thank the sports minister for her serious engagement throughout this stage. I'm glad to hear a strong responses to the amendments tabled by my honourable friend the member for Sheffield South East on the regulators powers to force divestments from suitable owners, and having read the ministers on the record, I'm glad this clarification.

The Minister explained that the regulator may appoint an officer to appoint the house to offer effectively in his absence. It may require a club to change its constitution at that as the most appropriate way to secure removal. It may force a road owner to divest, directing the owner to take no part directing the owner to take no part in the club the meantime. And I hope the Minister will reaffirm the points that she has made an windup speech today to make it clear to all the regulator and before us does pass the test.

This bill has been a long time coming, and let me thank all those who worked on it, including those in the previous government. As well as the previous secretary and minister for sport. I'm relieved that the bill is here, and this is a reflection on the social consensus and what was until very recently a cross-party consensus that we need this

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regulation and it sorely lacking. I am grateful to my friend who is making a great speech. Apparently 80% of fans support this bill, your 80% of fans support this bill, your recent polling at the Conservative party polling at 16%. Did she agree with me that these facts alone with me that these facts alone should give the Conservative front and should pause for thought?

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and should pause for thought? My friend makes a good point and I am surprised see the Conservative frontbench working on opposing the bill that they had introduced in part unsupported. We had built the part unsupported. We had built the society because of Dame Tracey and many others like her, and I think we

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should respect that. For anyone that has read review,

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For anyone that has read review, they note that the ultimate endgame says that football should be given says that football should be given back to the FAA, the powers of it, and the leaks themselves. Our position is to accelerate that

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rather than appoint a regulator. Doesn't she agree? The Conservatives have delayed

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The Conservatives have delayed this bill and delay any progress made. For far too many months, months were a struggle to grow without any independent regulation and I would like to see some reflection about what that means for the clubs who are waiting for the regulators to come in. Let Reading be one of the last clubs that have to fight this hard to survive. And let this bill be the turning point, and let's see what the shadow minister who is sitting just there before the opposite has said.

Let's get on with this and crack on with this bill.

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I had hoped to come to the house today with a spring in my step after seeing the sale go through. But this seeing the sale go through. But this past week or so, Morecambe FC and our town have been put through hell, our town have been put through hell, and we still can't see the end of and we still can't see the end of and we still can't see the end of it. Over 10 days ago, EFL have said they are ready and willing to buy.

Clemency has been granted. Over 14 months, significant funds have been months, significant funds have been put into the football club. One of the city was ready to sell, but the city was ready to sell, but instead of getting the deal done, Jason Whittingham has stalled. PS Jason Whittingham has stalled. PS delayed, given excuses, he tried to dismiss the board, and it is only dismiss the board, and it is only through the good intentions of the local board members and their responsibility that they feel
17:23
Lizzi Collinge Portrait Lizzi Collinge MP (Morecambe and Lunesdale, Labour)
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responsibility that they feel towards Morecambe that saw their return to try and facilitate the sale, but yet again, Jason stalled, so now the board have gone again. The Warriors have already poured in money to the club. They have made it clear that everything is ready for their and, but the sale has not been completed. Most distressingly, staff and players have not been paid better wages. I have been receiving emails who work for the club and are desperately worried about how they are going to pay their bills.

Our local citizens had to step in because that is what we do. We look after our own. Tomorrow, the club is due to pay £45,000 in VAT. Unless the sale goes through, there is no way the club can meet this obligation. Until now, I have restrained myself from using the full extent of Parliamentary privilege in this matter because my focus has been getting the sale done. I have held my tongue while the EFL went through their due diligence process. I have employed Jason Whittingham directly to just get on with the sale.

But this restraint has not produced the hope, the progress that I hoped to see. So I now feel duty-bound to use this privilege to layout what I say because what I suspect is that Jason Whittingham has built a house of cards and now it is falling down around his ears. There is mention of further unspecified investors, even at this final stage. There is a suspicion that the club is being used to leveraged his own financial situation. Morecambe FC is being held hostage, and it breaks my heart.

Morecambe FC is the cornerstone of our community and what is happening in Morecambe sure is exactly why this bill is needed. Jason Whittingham should never have been allowed to buy a football club. Last week, the secretary of state answer the question in this house about the sale. And I would like to thank her and the sports minister for all their support behind-the- scenes in dealing with this unfolding disaster. This Labour government has stood by the community, and I am baffled that the Conservatives are opposing this bill.

I know what a football club means to a town like Norco. This bill is a crucial step to stopping other towns like Morecambe and going through this heartache. Please paperwork.
17:26
Alex Sobel Portrait Alex Sobel MP (Leeds Central and Headingley, Labour )
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I would like to start by making a register of interest. I would also like to thank the Minister after the tragic death of Diego Giotto. My son is a Liverpool fan and his generation regards him as one of the finest players in the club. So, it is very sad news for them. But I move my amendments and I also stand to support my honourable friends amendment new clause 13. This is a great bill that will improve football and financial stability of the clubs.

But I want to database the failings in regards to the financial well-being of players. These amendments seek to address ongoing financial grooming disregard for player welfare in the football industry. I believe there is a historic opportunity to restore governance for the long-term good of clubs, supporters, and players, but to leave out the well-being protection and long-term players, the very people who drive the game who we go and see week in, week out in the stands, on the television, the people who are the beating heart of football would be a fundamental mistake.

I have written a letter to the Secretary of State supported by members of Parliament and 319 current and former pressure players across the game, including many legends of the game. Many of those have been victims of financial grooming and fraud. They have written, alongside me and other members, to address our strong support for the introduction of an independent football regulator, and to urge the player welfare will be included within the remit of the regulator. The current system is failing to many players.

Issues affecting player welfare spans from financial exploitation of mental- health to retirement transition. The support system is fragmented and often reactive at best. Despite the Football Association mandate, too many players feel unsupported, unprotected or unheard by them. These are not just historic importance but they are happening now. This is not simply a matter of correcting the path. New forms are appearing today, particularly through digital platforms financial expectation grooming. Some individuals remain active and operate and checked outside of meaningful oversight.

Players, especially younger ones, face avoidable risks and abuses, post- career mental-health and financial crisis, and lifelong consequences of concussion. This is a rare and timely moment. The football governance bill is a once in a generation opportunity to protect people in the game, not just clubs and investors but players too, including player welfare will make sure the minimum standards and accountability is applied across football. Regulated environment providing strong coordination teams, the club scored a Premier league, EFL, FA and LMA, and other associated organ is a's ultimately benefiting all parties.

Football must be more than financially sustainable. It must also be ethically sound which means protecting the health, dignity, welfare and future of the players who give everything to the sport. I urge the government to ensure that player welfare is not overlooked is this important legislation moves forward. My and 12 6 to safeguard players involving English football who are victims of financial abuse, mismanagement or fraud, or at risk of becoming victims of financial abuse and fraud. My new classic six twin bed measures aimed at achieving the financial abuses objective.

We see financial abuse and grooming across the sports, music, media and cultural industries. Football is not unique. But this is a unique opportunity for the regulation of football which can lead as an example for other areas. I want to finish by saying that this is classist abuse of the young and budding talent that extends and exploits. I will give way.

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Thank you. He talks about the class system and I think it is really telling that, in other countries that have less class-based societies, that football is recognised as the cultural thing recognised as the cultural thing that it is. It is recognised as culture and you think the football culture and you think the football in this country should be recognised on a par with other cultural on a par with other cultural

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on a par with other cultural I absolutely do. We cross the

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I absolutely do. We cross the spectrum between sport and culture. If you look at a country like Spain, it is right across the cultural it is right across the cultural spectrum there. Also, the ownership of the club is with the fans, and of the club is with the fans, and not with oligarchs, as the former Chelsea owner was or others. So Chelsea owner was or others. So there is a very different cultural aspect in other European cultures -- aspect in other European cultures -- countries.

I just want to say that this is classist abuse of young, budding talents that exploits their lives for the benefit of financial, high-powered moneymen. Liber's mission is to protect working people against exploitation -- Labour's mission. We must give them the predictions they deserve. Robert predictions they deserve. Robert protections. -- Protections. protections. -- Protections.
17:31
Jim Dickson Portrait Jim Dickson MP (Dartford, Labour)
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I happily declare an interest as a season ticket holder and a long- term fan of Crystal Palace. I promise to stop talking about this soon but I hope to milk it for another couple of months. This is a hugely overdue bill that has wide support from fans and communities across our country, as evidenced by its adoption of the key recommendations of the 2021 fan-led review. What is essentially true about football is that is not like any other industry.

Football clubs are more than just local businesses. Across the country, they sit at the heart of local communities. They are anchor institutions culturally and economically and I hope numbers across this House will support this bill that puts in place a new set of rules to protect clubs, empower fans and keep clubs where they belong at the heart of our communities. For that reason, it was a privilege to serve on the bill committee. This was my third bill committee in my first year in this please.

Hesitate to claim it was a parliamentary hat-trick but what set this one apart was the baffling approach of the opposition to this legislation. We see that on the amendment paper. We were told on the first day of the committee the reason the party opposite were against the bill, having introduced themselves in the last Parliament, was despite it being a very close in spirit and letter to the previous version, now represented in the words of the leader of the opposition a clear case of overregulation.

In the sitting days that followed, a blizzard of amendments were visited in the committee from the party opposite, the majority of which increased the powers of the scope and responsibilities of the regular -- regulator. For example, alcohol in football grounds. I will be delighted to give a.

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Does he think it is a bit rich of the party opposite, considering the promise they had in the 80s, to pen promise they had in the 80s, to pen fans in behind electrified fences

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fans in behind electrified fences and do nothing about hooligans? Now they are claiming to stand up for the football fan. Can I thank him for that

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Can I thank him for that intervention? I do think the attitude of the Conservative Government in the 1980s towards football fans was to treat them as football fans was to treat them as less than human. I don't wish to say that members opposite themselves not that members opposite themselves not football fans but there is a lack of interest from the party opposite in this bill. The elements designed to... Another complaint of the party to...

Another complaint of the party opposite who are at pains to try to point out that this regulation was going to cost funds during the. There amendments would have increased that cost. What we need and what this bill provides is an agile and lean independent regulator, so they cannot have their effort diverted from the key objective, which is to create financially sustainable football pyramid that is responsive to funds. Just a touch safely on a couple of the other amendments. Are very wrong the other amendments.

Are very wrong I am very sympathetic to NC3. Clearly, NC3 with set out in legislation requirement to all these matters. Are very sympathetic to that but I don't think his amendment specifies such a thing on the statute books -- specifying such a thing on the statute books is wise. I would like to see more top class football free to our television so it can give young fans the chance to watch more than just highlights on social media.

On amendment 10 and 11, I must confess strong agreement with the honourable member for Sheffield South East and what he is seeking to achieve. The separation of clubs and home loans -- grounds. We have seen this in a Sheffield. It invariably ends in a serious jeopardy for the club. It invites speculators to treat grounds as just another asset rather than something central to communities. Apart from anything else, it causes major problems when clubs change hands. This is an issue which needs to be addressed.

I also agree with the points the honourable member for Sheffield south-east made about wanting the state of the game report which the regulator will have to produce brought forward as soon as possible so that its analysis can be used to broker a financial distribution deal across the pyramid at the earliest opportunity. In our manifesto ahead of last year because my collection, we said we were committed to making Britain the best possible place in the world to be a football supporter. This bill delivers this commitment for a sustainable game with clubs at the centre of our communities and fans at the heart of our game.

at the heart of our game.
17:37
Sean Woodcock Portrait Sean Woodcock MP (Banbury, Labour)
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Thank you very much. It is a privilege to have the chance to speak in this debate on the issue of such importance in legislation, when that goes to the heart of national identity which is the future of the beautiful game. Like Shakespeare, the Beatles and James Bond, football is one of this country's greatest contributions to the world. Not just a fantastic world but a global phenomenon and arguably our most successful export. English football is watched by billions globally.

However, we must not allow this success to disguise the underlying fragility in the English football remit. Too many clubs have collapsed in recent years. Consequences have rippled through entire communities. In my own constituency, while not collapsing, the football club for Chipping Norton has been away from the town for over a decade. It's grounds were bought and sold off by letters but it a rather unscrupulous individual who did not look after the club, the town or its funds.

That losses still deeply felt. There is also hopeful so down the road, supporters fed up with mismanagement took matters into their own hands. They transformed a club, took it over and turned it into a community benefit Society. The revenue from match day tickets now goes back into supporting local groups and good causes. After two successive promotions, they proved that this model is not a barrier to success on the pitch. I know the secretary of the -- Secretary of State and minister...

They will be given a warm welcome should they choose to grace us with their presence. I want to again invite them to my constituency to do that. Will Chipping Norton and the puritans are not in the scope of this legislation because they are not yet high enough in the football pyramid, there are countless others up and down showing why this is necessary. -- Why this reform is necessary. And happy to give a.

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He speaks very eloquently about the need for a regulator. We just heard from a fan of Crystal Palace heard from a fan of Crystal Palace and now we've heard from a fan of Banff United. Does this not show Banff United. Does this not show there is complete agreement across the football remit that there needs to be better regulation in football? -- football pyramid.

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I think are for the intervention. -- I thank her for the intervention. As I said in my intervention earlier, this has the support of 80% of funds in football. I find it of funds in football. I find it quite simply staggering the party opposite have decided, having put forward this legislation, that they forward this legislation, that they are now against it for who knows whatever reason. Too many clubs have whatever reason. Too many clubs have been left vulnerable to reckless ownership and financial mismanagement.

It simply cannot continue. This bill is a vital step to ensuring that football is sustainable for the benefit of funds sustainable for the benefit of funds and their community. Both now and into the future. It will promote financial stability, prevent rogue owners and directors from causing how -- harm. It will safeguard both the game and communities it fosters.

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More than happy to give a. He will know too well that my

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He will know too well that my football club, Southend United, nearly disappeared because of mismanagement. Does he agree with me mismanagement. Does he agree with me that this new bill will make sure we need two keep these football -- we

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need two keep these football -- we keep these football clubs at the heart of our communities? I'm grateful for his

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I'm grateful for his intervention. He is right. When we intervention. He is right. When we I'm not surprised the honourable member decided to walk out of the member decided to walk out of the stupor. -- This chamber. This government has shown intent and is
17:42
Lisa Nandy Portrait Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Wigan, Labour)
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government has shown intent and is driving the ball forward. I am very proud to support this bill and I commend it to the house.

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Frontbench. I'm so grateful to all Honourable

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I'm so grateful to all Honourable members who have not spoken in this debate today but have brought the real life experiences and voices of funds into this chamber. That is Parliament at its best ensuring that Parliament at its best ensuring that people who have not been heard for too long I finally heard and that too long I finally heard and that action is taken. I'm grateful to all of the members who spoken regardless of whether the government is of whether the government is choosing to accept the amendments that they have put forward.

I did want to address some of the very want to address some of the very many valid points that have been made during the course of this debate. I wanted to start with the debate. I wanted to start with the issue of player welfare which is clearly of such concern to so many members on all sides of this House. It was raised by the member for Doncaster Central, Derbyshire Dales, Doncaster Central, Derbyshire Dales, carefully, Alderman, Saddleworth, West Midlands and Lonsdale and four Leeds Central among others.

It has Leeds Central among others. It has been raised by many, many other members over the course of the last year with myself and my Honourable year with myself and my Honourable friend the Minister for Support. I want to reassure the House that although the amendment rent player welfare does not fit -- around player welfare does not fit in the scope of the bill, it treats it with the seriousness it demands. We were privileged to meet recently with the number of families affected who have been campaigning for justice for far too long.

That includes John, who many Honourable members pay tribute to, who spoke very movingly about the experience of his father and his family and going through this. They are not wealthy people. They deserve better treatment. As a government, we are determined to grip this issue. We are clear that football can and must do more. I will be pleased to update the house as we make progress in the pursuit of justice. Can I also thank the member for Dewsbury and Batley for the points that he made about secondary ticketing, and the associated point he made about the cost of football, which for many fans, particularly in the Premier league, I know is of significant concern.

This game belongs to its funds and its nothing without its funds. It's important that fans are able to access the game that they love and that they have built. He will now that this government wasted no time in opening a consultation about secondary ticketing across the board. Our message is clear. The time is up for ticket outs and the consultation that my honourable friend and I -- my Honourable friend launched is shortly to be published before the house imminently.

I'm really grateful to all Honourable members who stood up for fans, whether it is music fans, football fans or other music fans, football fans or other

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patterns fans. -- Other fans. Of Disagreed me that this bill puts fans at the heart of where they should be, and that had this bill should be, and that had this bill been in place earlier, that fans like Barton Wanderers in my constituency would have embraced this?

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I know somebody who lives just down the road from Bolton and was directly affected our what happened directly affected our what happened at Bolton Wanderers. I thank her for her tireless support for the fans her tireless support for the fans and the town because I think what a lot of people don't appreciate until you've been through this as she and I have, is that this doesn't just I have, is that this doesn't just affect the football fans in the affect the football fans in the town.

Bolton Wanderers like athletic stance our town. It's part of our identity, part of our pride. And it's also part of our family it's also part of our family inheritance. The chairman of, chairwoman of my supporters club used to go to the football with her used to go to the football with her dad when she was a little girl. She now takes her children, and they in now takes her children, and they in turn will take theirs. These are institutions that stand at the centre of our towns, and they centre of our towns, and they deserve to be passed on to the next generation as part of our civic inheritance.

So can I thank so much

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inheritance. So can I thank so much for that? I will briefly give way. What she is talking about with Barton is of course something fans of Reading FC felt across Berkshire, including in Bracknell when the fans were able to support the club to be saved from unfit owner. So you agree with me that it's important we get this bill in place so we can stop

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what happened in Redding ever happening to a football club again? When I figure club, Wigan

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When I figure club, Wigan athletic was in trouble because of poor ownership for the second time, I used those precise words my honourable friend suffused, that honourable friend suffused, that this must be the last time that this ever happens to football fans again, and they rightly said here we are with so many members telling with so many members telling heartbreaking stories about the nil loss of their clubs. So it couldn't agree with him more. Let me make agree with him more.

Let me make some progress. I just wanted to say, to acknowledge to the honourable to acknowledge to the honourable member for Cheltenham and Carshalton and Wallington that although we may disagree about the best way to improve access and protect the financial sustainability of the game, I do not doubt for one moment there is sincerity in wanting to there is sincerity in wanting to make sure that far more people can make sure that far more people can experience the joy of football.

And my honourable friend the midst of the sports at me earlier tips been a the sports at me earlier tips been a pleasure to work with the honourable member to get this book onto the statute book, so very grateful to him for that. Can I turn to new clause 9, which my honourable friend the Member for Sheffield South East has done extraordinary work, throughout the entire passage of the bill, but just particularly to address that point because my honourable friend didn't have time to address it earlier.

We absolutely understand why he is pursuing this point. He is right to do so, but we believe that the amendment is not necessary. My honourable friend has made a commitment to me, and I'm happy to pass that to him, that she will write to him with a full explanation about, and place a copy of that letter in House of Commons Library, but can I really on behalf of this whole House thank you for the expertise he has brought to bear?

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I think her for that. My intention is to draw attention to whether the regulator has the power whether the regulator has the power or has the power to intervene if the or has the power to intervene if the domestic competitions that all clubs engage in are being damaged by competitions like the club World Cup, which handful of clubs make Cup, which handful of clubs make multimillion pounds out of, and that's the point I wanted to make sure the regulator had the power to deal with.



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deal with. Is absolutely right. We believe

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Is absolutely right. We believe that it does, but as I said my honourable friend will write to him on that point and place a copy of that letter in the House of Commons Library so that the whole House can understand where the government's position on that. Can I just turn to position on that. Can I just turn to the Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup? I don't know where to start Sidcup? I don't know where to start with this to be honest.

But I'm determined to give it a try. When it determined to give it a try. When it comes to the government's preferred candidate, can I just gently point out the honourable member that this out the honourable member that this is a candidate who has been strongly endorsed by the cross-party Select Committee in this place? He was Committee in this place? He was appointed by the last Conservative government, to the board of Channel government, to the board of Channel 4. And as I made clear, a moment ago, he was on the list that I inherited from his government and his honourable friend who now serves as the shadow Secretary of State along with a Conservative donor as well.

Can I just say to him that it is astonishing that he has come to this House now belatedly with allegations of cronyism? And the best and only defence he has been able to offer for this breathtaking hypocrisy is that his honourable friend the shadow Secretary of State didn't have a clue what was going on in his own department. Can he not see how absurd that is?

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For those not in the room, what the discussion was about was the fact the honourable gentleman in question sit on the floor of the DCMS committee he was not approached by the then minister, he was by the then minister, he was approached by civil servants. For this active state is now trying to say is that her department is not under investigation. Is that correct? Are you under investigation for this appointment?

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for this appointment? Order order. First of all, I am

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Order order. First of all, I am not. Second, the honourable lady not. Second, the honourable lady came very close to unparliamentary language insane, accusing another honourable member of hypocrisy. I'm

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sure she didn't intend that. Out of respect for you, I am very

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Out of respect for you, I am very happy to clarify. I think perhaps the honourable member might be a bit confused. And add to the confusion, confused. And add to the confusion, I would just like to point him to a point that was made very strongly by the Member for Dartford earlier about the way in which the about the way in which the honourable member has done this astonishing about turn, having called for stronger regulation. He is now calling for weaker is now calling for weaker regulation.

Sorry, if he doesn't want to listen to my words, perhaps I can let him listen to his. Following years of misery and uncertainty to fans, I welcomed the news, he said on an Independent Football Regulator. Will the Minister, he went on, assure my constituents that the regulator will have sufficient powers to deal with regulatory breaches and strengthen those ownership tests? Well, I prefer this earlier work. His earlier work. And let me say that although their Minister delegate backs his own bill and will act, this government will.

Can I just finally turned to something that is very close to my heart, and that is the experiences that were given voice by many members today. The Member for Crewe and Nantwich, Dawood, Derby South. I think especially the Member for Earley and Woodley who has been a tireless champion for Reading through very difficult times. She said letters be the last. And she is absolutely right about that. But in the month, no in the years that football fans of rated for this piece of legislation to come onto the statute books and for this promise that was made all those years ago to be made good, too many people have experienced the hell that she has been through and semi others.

And I think it's only fitting really for me to finish with a reference to my honourable friend the Member for Morecambe has been tireless in her defence of her club and her town. I had the privilege of going to Morecambe to meet with the shrimps, and the board that she rightly referenced who have done so much for the club. She outlined more powerfully than any others could the impact that this has, but also the strength of feeling about owners who refuse to sell their clubs, even when the impact of that would be to bring those proud clubs to the verge of collapse.

I do want to say it's been a privilege to work very closely with her, although I wish it had been on something more positive as I know she does. And want to make clear from this despatch box that this government takes a very very dim view of owners who treat our clubs as playthings rather than the custodians that they are. I want to thank her, all the members of this House for a really, most of the members in this House for a very constructive debate.

And I commend this bill to the House.

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Order order. Having lowered the temperature, I trust that I can now rely upon the shadow Minister to maintain a temperature. If not, I might have to intervene.
17:55
Louie French Portrait Mr Louie French MP (Old Bexley and Sidcup, Conservative)
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might have to intervene. Thank you. With leave of the House, it's my pleasure to sum up House, it's my pleasure to sum up this report stage. And what we've heard today is how many of the issues facing football there is common ground on themselves, but we do disagree as I highlighted in my original starting speech is on the solutions. Because this is a government that is currently under investigation for appointing a Labour crony to chair an Independent Football Regulator.

They may not like it, but that is the reality of what is currently going on. And our Amendment 18 seeks to end this politicisation of such a role, and seeks to make sure there is transparency on future appointments. We believe strongly that no member would vote this down given it seeks to end cronyism over clubs and favours over fans. And with regards to new clause 1, alcohol at football grounds, as we've said already in this debate, and we have support from the honourable member Feltham and the Liberal Democrats, we believe this ban is outdated.

We believe herbal fans should not be treated with a two-tier approach to being able to drink in the stands. And we will be moving this clause to a division because on this side of the House, we are on the side of football fans. We will not be continuing this nanny state approach. We will be making sure that the fans are treated with respect that they deserve. And we will see tonight whose side this

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government are really on. Thank you. The question is that new clause 1 be read a second time. As many as
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18:35
Lisa Nandy Portrait Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Wigan, Labour)
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Minister to move Third Reading. Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker.

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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Like to move that the bill now be Like to move that the bill now be read for the third time. It's been 14 years since the Select Committee first called for change for football fans -- for years. -- four. For years since the call to end the misery that football fans have injured for far too long. I would like to pay tribute to my Honourable friend the member for Barnsley South, the Sports Minister, and Baronesses Twycross who have guided us expertly through this bill.

I would like to thank the civil servants in my department who have worked tirelessly to get us to this point will stop in particular, I would like to thank the bill, policy and legal teams who will be as relieved as anybody to see this bill finally become law. I would also like to thank the very many parliamentarians who have worked so hard with us all to get this bill into a better shape, in particular to strengthen the provisions for fans to put fans back at the heart of the game, and to improve the backstop process.

This is a light- touch regulator that will help to enhance the game and I'm really grateful to all of those parliamentarians for their support. Finally, I would like to pay tribute to somebody who has become not just an inspiration to a lot of football fans around the country but a friend to us all as well. That is Dame Tracey Crouch whose review highlighted how many football fans have been left with nowhere to turn when faced with reckless owners, financial mismanagement and threats to their clubs very existence.

Her dedication and expertise has been integral to getting us to where we are today. Whilst I'm sad not to be able to pay tribute to the honourable member opposite who steered the bill through its first stages under the last government and no longer supports his own legislation, I do want to acknowledge that from the outset, this has been a cross-party effort to stand by football fans the length and breadth of our country. Finally, I want to address our football fans who are the best in the world.

We are doing this for new because for too long, you have been treated as an afterthought at best or a nuisance at worst in a game that is only great because of you. This is for Macclesfield, for Wigan, for Very, for Bolton, for Derby, fermenting, for Sheffield Wednesday, for more come and many, many more who have had to endure the misery of being put last when they should have been quite first. We promised in our manifesto we would end years of inaction and make the changes that fans have fought for so long and are so overdue.

I am proud to be part of the winning team that has put fans back on the pitch at the heart of the game where they belong. the game where they belong.
18:38
Louie French Portrait Mr Louie French MP (Old Bexley and Sidcup, Conservative)
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The question is that the bill now be read 1/3 time. I called the shadow Minister.

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We cannot support this expanded, bills drafting and we believe that bills drafting and we believe that passing it tonight risks harming the game we seek to protect. We largely agree on the walls -- problems in agree on the walls -- problems in football. Fans are left powerless when a club is torn apart by profit-seeking. No one wants to see another Macclesfield. Let us be clear and honest with fans. This bill will not stop a bad owner from damaging o'clock.

Market failure damaging o'clock. Market failure will not be removed. The risks of breakaway league will now grow, not string. This bill risks financial string. This bill risks financial mismanagement -- replacing financial mismanagement with political interference.An end with endless red interference.An end with endless red tape, and the soul of our game with a new quango that grows year by year and challenged by real scrutiny or and challenged by real scrutiny or accountability to Parliament or fans. If we vote this bill through tonight, we will not remove tonight, we will not remove unaccountable owners but we will create more unaccountable bureaucrats.

This government will strangle the growth of a great British success story rather than enable it. English football does not belong to politicians. It belongs to the fans in the stands, the volunteers in the clubhouse, the Kings pulling on the side for the first time on a Sunday morning. This bill opens the door for mission creep on an extraordinary skill with clauses which would let any future Minister expand the regulator's powers. As drafted, this bill risks reaching FIFA and UEFA 's clear rules against overreach putting clubs in danger of sanctions that would shame the country on the world stage.

It sets up a powerful new regulator with vast indiscretion. -- regulator with vast indiscretion. -- Fast is -- vast discretion. If the Minister thinks that big clubs will pay for this quango alone, she needs to read her own impact report. Ultimately, the fans always pay, To higher merchandise prices. The test of a good law is whether it solves a problem. Proportionately and properly. Not whether it let's ministers feel they have done something. This bill fails that test and fails spectacularly.

It treats our national game not as a living tradition rooted in local pride but as an industry to be micromanaged by the state. This is not how English football was built and it is not how it will be sustained. On behalf of his Majesty official opposition, I can see clearly tonight that football is at its best when the players entertain the crowd and the referee goes unnoticed. This bill risks creating more referees and players. Referees who answer not to clubs and supporters but to Labour ministers.

If this bill passes and we expect it will tonight then I can confirm to the House and fans at home a future Conservative government will trigger a review of labour's regulator as soon as possible. If it is overreaching and

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strangling clubs... Order. Continue.

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Order. Continue. Thank you. And if it is overreaching and strangling clubs with unnecessary red tape as we believe it will, we will act decisively on behalf of fans to promote the English game again. The real threat to football's feature is real threat to football's feature is not a lack of regulators. It is the erosion of competition and trust between owners, communities and supporters. We will fix this with stronger transparency rules. Better enforcement of existing laws and real fan power.

Not a vast new real fan power. Not a vast new quango led by of labour crony -- led quango led by of labour crony -- led -- led by a Labour crony. This -- led by a Labour crony. This shameful government is under investigation. Cronies over clubs, favours over fans, greed over the beautiful game. Tonight, the Conservatives will be voting against Conservatives will be voting against this bill in good conscience. And national game deserves better than a government whose only knowledge of government whose only knowledge of football is free tickets and corporate approaches sandwiches.

-- Corporate prawn sandwiches. We will continue to stand up for the fans, not the bureaucrats creating an even larger nanny state. We will continue to stand up for healthy competition and local pride. Not a one size fits all state interference that will relegate English bull amongst global competition. We will be ready to visit this when it likely fails to Football Football belongs Football belongs to Football belongs to the Football belongs to the fans Football belongs to the fans are Football belongs to the fans are now badly drafted act of Parliament should ever forget that.



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The question is... I think it's all over.

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I think it's all over. Well, it will be for you. The question is the bill now be
18:44
None Portrait Division: Football Governance Bill (Lords), Third Reading
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The question is the bill now be

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The question is the bill now be read 1/3 time. -- a third time. As many of that opinion, say "Aye". Those in the contrary, say "No". Colleagues Colleagues should Colleagues should be Colleagues should be seated. Colleagues should be seated. The question is as on the Order Paper. question is as on the Order Paper. As many of that opinion, say "Aye".

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Lock Lock the

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Order Order order.

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Order order. The ayes to the right, 450. The noes to the left, 98.

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noes to the left, 98. The ayes to the right, 415. The noes to the left, 98. The ayes have noes to the left, 98. The ayes have Ministers leaving the Frontbench should do so very swiftly. Swiftly. should do so very swiftly. Swiftly. Motion number three on electronic communications minister to move? The question is as on the order paper. As many as are of that opinion say, As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it, the ayes have it.

ayes have it, the ayes have it. Measure four, on adjournments, and conference recesses minister to move?

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Move formally. The question is as on the order paper. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it, the ayes have it. I now call the Minister to move motion number five on the reappointment of Dr Katy Radford as
18:59
18:59
Dan Carden Portrait Adjournment: Safeguarding combat sports for children Dan Carden MP (Liverpool Walton, Labour)
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Carden. Thank you. I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead this debate on opportunity to lead this debate on safeguarding children in combat sports. And I do so with a heavy sports. And I do so with a heavy heart and a profound sense of responsibility. Because today, I responsibility. Because today, I speak for a young constituent who can no longer speak for themselves. can no longer speak for themselves. Alex Eastwood was just 15 years old when just over a year ago he stepped when just over a year ago he stepped into a ring for a kickboxing bout into a ring for a kickboxing bout and never returned home.

He was a son, a brother, a friend, described son, a brother, a friend, described by his family as the heart and soul of their home. He had dreams, hopes, and an infectious passion for sports. A boy who filled every room sports. A boy who filled every room with laughter and warmth. His father Steve, his mother Nikita are with us today in the public gallery. As are representatives from the day, the representatives from the day, the law firm who represented the family at the recent inquest.

And I have previously met his brothers, Jake previously met his brothers, Jake and Frankie in preparation for speaking today. Alex's family have shown extraordinary courage in the face of unimaginable grief. By turning their pain into a powerful call for change. Because Alex's death was not simply a tragic It was a preventable loss and it highlighted a dangerous gap in our duty to protect children. Alex died following an unsanctioned exhibition kickboxing match at the gym and Wigan.

This means that it was not sanctioned by any national governing body and fell outside the jurisdiction of Boxing GB -- Kickboxing GB. This is the only organisation recognised by the international Olympic Committee. The fight was meant to be light contact. Held as part of a charity event. It straight tragically and fatally into danger. Alex's opponent on the night was two years older with experience and training in full contact fighting. As the match was unsanctioned, no independent ringside doctor or paramedics were present.

Inside, to first responders with a first-aid qualifications were there. -- two. Alex completed in three rounds and after becoming disoriented, he was assisted to the ring floor. He was then taken by ambulance to the infirmary in Wigan and later transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. He was found to have a catastrophic bleed on the brain. He underwent surgery but died in hospital three years wrong three days later. -- Died in hospital three days later. The coroner's court concluded the safety measures in place at the time and the broader regulatory environment for children participating in combat sports.

I

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will give way. Can I commend the Honourable gentleman. This is a very difficult gentleman. This is a very difficult subject and he is doing this with admirable compassion and understanding. I think the family in the House must appreciate that as well. Does the honourable member not agree today that there is a legal agree today that there is a legal and moral obligation to protect children and young people in sport through the creation and promotion through the creation and promotion of a safe environment which protects them from harm, and each sport has them from harm, and each sport has different obligation to fulfil.

It's different obligation to fulfil. It's reasonable that instructors must position children in a way and that requires regulation and government action. Does the honourable member action. Does the honourable member agreed that there must be a sport by sport approach to safeguarding and regulation? Thank you so much.

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regulation? Thank you so much. I'm grateful to my Honourable friend for being here tonight. I know the family will be grateful for know the family will be grateful for know the family will be grateful for the interest he has shown. I will go on to talk about the lack of regulation and what the family are regulation and what the family are calling for. The coroner in this inquest, Michael Pemberton, and I know the family want me to thank him for his approach to this case, described the match that Alex was part of as chaotic and somewhat disjointed.

There were no national -- there was no national governing body oversight. There is no clear or enforced safety standards. Gordon Mitchell, head of welfare and governance at Kickboxing GB told the inquest that the organisation would never sanction a light contact about never sanction a light contact about in a ring -- bout. He said such matters are only permitted on mats were mitigating factors such as fighters stepping off the mat would allow referees to step in in the event of a mismatch or escalating risk.

On the broader framework, governing children's participation in combat sports, the inquest heard that standards around safety, medical oversight and safeguarding vary widely and in many cases are absolutely -- absent altogether. In the words of the coroner, " The level of confidence and organisational safeguards that people would expect to exist within the sport is sadly lacking. If a match is unofficial or unsanctioned, there is no guideline of what minimum standard must be met to provide safeguarding for a child disciplined.

Now minimum standard of what medical support must -- might be required, no maximum rounds, no maximum periods of rest common welfare checks on participants being undertaken, and now risk assessment or critical incident plan." It should stop all of us in our tracks to learn that in this country children can be placed in combat situations without clear, enforceable national protections. Alex's family did everything right. Everything a loving family would do. They encouraged him to get involved in a range of sports and activities, supported him when it became clear that he had a talent for kickboxing.

They enabled him to thrive and what he loved doing, and to become a six time world champion. But as the inquest made clear, they and Alex were failed by a lack of safeguarding, of responsibility, and of regulation. Every single day, children up and down the country are taking part in activities like Alex did. They lace up gloves, put on headgear, step into training holes and brings with no minimum standards in place to ensure their safety.

Parents who just want the best for their children want them to be fit and healthy, to enjoy sports, to discover and nurture their talents are sending their children to participate in contact sports without realising the risks. Many people don't know that there are sanctioned and unsanctioned bouts and what that means in terms of safety. Many people don't know that there is not one governing body for kickboxing and that membership of it is not mandatory. This is the shocking reality exposed by the inquest into Alex's death.

It's the reason why the coroner took the highly unusual step of issuing a regulation 28 prevention of future deaths report before the inquest had concluded to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. There is no regulation for contact sports involving children's participation. He said " Action should be taken to prevent future deaths and the government has the power to take such action." May I welcome the fact that the Secretary of State has tasked her department with exploring ways to urgently improve the safety and welfare of children in martial arts and combat sport to ensure it is always a priority? Urgent action must follow.

I would be grateful for any further date that the ministers today can provide. With Alex's family are doing and what they are demanding as simple. Clear, enforceable protections for children in combat sports. This would replace the current patchwork in which there is no consistency in roles, no oversight, and no accountability. From this tragedy, a better system must emerge. We await to Alex and to his family. We owe it to every parent who believes in good faith that their children are protected by the rules operating around sports, and we await to every child who steps into a ring or onto a match, trusting the adults around them are keeping them say.

No child should lose their life participating in a sport they love. I want to finish with the words of Alex's parents. " Our lives have been changed for ever. Alex's future was taken and with it part of hours to. We miss him every second -- ours. Now, all we have left are memories. We also have the responsibility to make sure his death was not in vain and for his sake we will make sure we do that." Madam Deputy Speaker, we cannot bring Alex back, but we can ensure that his legacy is one that prevents such a tragedy ever happening again.

Thank you.

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I called the Minister. Thank you. I'm grateful to my

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Thank you. I'm grateful to my Honourable friend, the member for Liverpool Walton for securing this
19:11
Stephanie Peacock Portrait Stephanie Peacock MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) (Barnsley South, Labour)
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Liverpool Walton for securing this important debate and for his moving speech. The death of his constituent as a result of a kick sing about is devastating. I know my honourable friend, the member for Liverpool Walton, cares deeply about child safeguarding and I can reassure both him and the House that those who is a priority for this government. Advocates with care and thought for his constituent, making a very powerful and moving speech, when that I have heard very clearly. In the time available to become I will set out the government plans for safeguarding children and combat sports.

I will begin by outlining key safeguarding issues and then I will set out the government's next steps in addressing this important issue. Firstly, can I recognise that this is a debate that everyone would have hoped we were not having. The tragic circumstances is something we hoped would never have happened. His family were here this evening, I'm sure I speak on behalf of the whole House in extending our deepest sympathies and as the honourable member have said -- has said, they have shown incredible courage.

The culture secretary will be meeting Alexander's family next week. Both of us are committed to making sure that meaningful change happens so that no other family has to go through the pain that you have felt. It is a priority of my department that the safety and well-being of children taking part in sport is absolutely paramount. Alexander prospered death is such a tragedy and has made it very clear that more needs to be done to protect the safety of children in combat sports. Ahead of the inquest into the death of Alexander Eastwood, the assistant coroner for Manchester West filed a section 28 report to prevent future deaths.

The report highlighted specific areas of concern for children and men shall -- martial arts. The Minister for culture, media and sport set out how we must address these concerns. We must take account of the entire martial arts sector and its complexity. It is made of many different disciplines. Many, though not all of these disciplines, have publicly funded national governing bodies. Many have robust safety measures in place. There are minimum safeguarding standards... Many clubs and competitions are not affiliated with a public funded governing body.

However many providers choose to The code is funded by sport England and recognises clubs and associations that demonstrate strong safeguarding practices against a set minimum standard,. The coroner) report highlighted specific issues report highlighted specific issues around clubs and competitions that are not affiliated with the national governing body. We are now looking into this as a matter of urgency. The coroner identified that without a set standards, clubs and competitions may not have adequate regulations around medical checks and support.

The number of rounds, participant welfare checks and critical incident plans. Despite programs in place to provide safeguarding actresses, unaffiliated providers are not required to meet any shared safety standards. I do recognise that coaches and providers work hard to make martial arts available to communities across the country. I also recognise the work done by clubs and associations to comply with the safeguarding code in martial arts. There must be strong consistent standards for safeguarding children across all martial arts. Clearly, more must be done.

Clubs and competitions across martial arts should share consistent standards for safeguarding children. Parents and carers should be able to trust that appropriate safety measures are in place regardless of where they participate. Existing safety standards set by Sport England and their partners must be about -- robust and fit for purpose. They must translate into strong safety practices across all martial arts. The sector should encourage as many clubs as possible to adopt Parents and carers deserve to be able to make informed decisions about where the children participate in martial arts.

Information on best safety practices and which clubs and competitions meet shared standards should be readily available to participants and their guardians. Of course the burden of finding information should not only light with participants and their guardians. Clubs and competitions with robust safety practices should be supported to promote the standards that they meet. The government is looking at all of these areas to assess what more can be done to safeguard children in combat sports. As promised in her response to the coroner's report, the culture secretary will be meeting with the family of Alexander Eastwood to hear about their experiences and views and to discuss our thinking in more detail before we go into more detail publicly, and I hope everyone can appreciate why this approach is being taken.

In addition, in response to the coroner's report in this case, my department has forcing them to work with martial arts sector and present a plan in the coming months. This work will include developing guidance for the martial arts sector and reviewing the safeguarding code martial arts to make sure it reflects best practice and is fit for purpose. Sport England also work with the NSPCC to help educate parents and carers on what to look for in choosing where to participate in martial arts.

This will involve the LS PCCs keeping your child safe at sport week a week of educational programming in October. My department is also exploring ways to strengthen safety standards in clubs and competitions that are not affiliated with the national governing bodies. We are having conversations with the martial arts sector to understand how we can help parents and carers to be confident that their children will be safe that their children will be safe when they participate. Our aim will be to ensure that safeguarding prices in martial arts are consistent, effective and transparent.

In conclusion, I would

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like to thank... I will give way. Thank you. May I thank the

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Thank you. May I thank the Minister and thank the Secretary of Minister and thank the Secretary of State who has been up to see the family this evening in the gallery and will be meeting them next week. I note that the family and the day I note that the family and the day for solicitors will be grateful for for solicitors will be grateful for the response tonight and putting a lot of information on the record. lot of information on the record.

The sports activities for young people are so important to our communities. We don't want to put any young people off taking up a any young people off taking up a sport, and becoming professional and sport, and becoming professional and competitive in that sport. This is about safety and giving parents the safety and security that they need safety and security that they need and something good coming from Alex Eastwood's death.

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Eastwood's death. I'm incredibly grateful to the honourable gentleman for his work and his moving contribution and for and his moving contribution and for that incredibly important point that he has put on the record, and as he has said, sport should be safe and has said, sport should be safe and welcoming environment where participants and carers and parents can have confidence. Many martial can have confidence. Many martial arts providers work hard for the safety and there are strong safety practices in -- in place in many areas.

More should be done to ensure safety standards are strong, consistent and transparent. Standards of practice should be robust and widely adopted across the sector, and it should be clear to parents and carers which clubs and competitions comply with shared standards and which ones do not. Nothing can bring Alexander back, but as the Secretary of State said to me before the debate, we are determined to work with his family to make sure part of his legacy is real change so a tragedy like this never happens again.



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The question is that this House do now adjourn. As many as are of that opinion say, "Aye." Of the contrary, "No." The ayes have it,
This debate has concluded
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