Contributions
1,554 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)These amendments will make all regulatory functions under the Bill fundable through the levy. As drafted, the Bill sets out the specific functions that will be funded through the…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)Clause 56 is the first clause of part 6, which relates to financial distributions and the backstop mechanism in its totality. I understand the desire on both sides to apply…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)We expect the regulator to look at this on a case-by-case basis. As we have said throughout, we very much intend for the regulator to be proportionate depending on where a club…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)I begin by acknowledging the comments from my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield South East. I appreciate him putting that on the record. Of course, we will have a fuller debate…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)The clause places a duty on all regulated clubs in relevant insolvency proceedings to keep fans informed of the progress of the proceedings. Any fan that has experienced their…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)I am happy to write to the shadow Minister. I appreciate that we added this clause; it was not in the previous iteration of the Bill. That is why I was keen to talk about…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)We will come on to enforcement, but a range of enforcement options will be available to the regulator, if it feels that a club is not doing what it asked the club to do.12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)I thank hon. Members for tabling the amendments to clause 49. We will discuss the clause in more detail in the clause stand part debate, so I will reserve some of my comments…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for his points, to which I will respond briefly. There are no changes in the bit of the Bill that we are talking about compared with the previous Bill,…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)I beg to move amendment 27, in clause 56, page 46, line 27, leave out “means an order under section 62(1) or (3)” and insert “has the meaning given by section (Distribution…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)To achieve its objectives, which include a club financial soundness objective, a systemic financial resilience objective and a heritage objective, the regulator will need…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)Clause 37 lists the matters the regulator must take into account when it conducts an owners and directors test. That includes what it must consider when determining whether an…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)I am grateful to the shadow Minister. First, it is certainly not about expanding, and we have been very clear that we do not want scope creep. He asks “Why now?” We have always…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)The financial distress experienced by some of English football’s most historic clubs was partly down to unsuitable owners and directors. As we have already discussed, the…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)I am grateful to Members for their contributions and will take their points in turn. The clause applies both to existing and to new competitions. If any competition breaches the…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)No, of course we do not. I totally agree. I was coming to that point. As I understand it, friendlies would be out of scope, but I am happy to write to Committee members if they…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)That was so bad.12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)I say gently that I think the shadow Minister is misunderstanding, and I am happy to write to him. The amendment means that all functions can now be covered by the levy, whereas…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Eighth sitting)Yes, that is the intention. Amendment 18 agreed to. Amendments made: 19, in clause 53, page 42, line 13, leave out “leviable functions” and insert “functions under this Act”. This…12 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Seventh sitting)Yes, I believe that there is provision in the Bill to do that. For those reasons, I ask my hon. Friend to withdraw the amendment.12 Jun 2025