Contributions
1,554 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I thank the shadow Minister for tabling the amendments, which I will take in turn in responding to the points that he made. Broadly, amendments 107 and 108 concern integral powers…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I am grateful to the shadow Minister for those questions. I reiterate, as I said in an earlier intervention, that the licensing is separate from the ownership. On some of his…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)It is important for sustainability that incumbent owners and officers continue to be suitable custodians of their clubs. That is why the Bill gives the regulator the power to test…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for Wokingham for tabling new clause 15 and the hon. Member for Newbury for speaking to it, but it is already open to anyone, including all those listed in…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)I will begin with the subject of UEFA. Once again, I can reassure the shadow Minister that UEFA is content with the Bill as drafted. He will note that, in answer to his written…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Yes, absolutely. We very much want that confidence to be established. We simply do not think that regulating junior employees, supporters trusts or the FSA is appropriate or…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)As we have heard throughout the passage of the Bill, football clubs hold unique importance to their fans and local communities, and it is these fans who lose out when clubs are…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 23 already tightly constrains the regulator’s ability to set discretionary licence conditions, and the shadow Minister’s earlier amendment sought to tighten that further,…10 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Sixth sitting)Clause 21 outlined the use of discretionary licence conditions, which can be used to bring clubs up to the threshold requirements for a full operating licence, if necessary. They…10 Jun 2025HANSARDContingencies Fund Advance: Independent Football RegulatorI would like to notify the House that the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has obtained approval for an advance from the contingencies fund of £3,470,000. The independent…09 Jun 2025HANSARDGrassroots Sport FacilitiesGrassroots sport has the power to bring people together, creating a healthier nation and increasing opportunities for communities across the UK. As part of the Government’s plan…09 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [Lords] (Fourth sitting)I can absolutely. I said I did not want to be drawn on the specifics of the statement; I do not want to pre-empt what is in there, but I tried to give an illustration without…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)The point in the intervention speaks contrary to the amendment that we are discussing. It is somewhat confusing— [ Interruption. ] It was a question, indeed, but it speaks…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)The clause sets out the general duties of the regulator to define when and how it can act. The regulator must act in a way that, in so far as is reasonably practicable, is…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)I am grateful to the shadow Minister for those questions, which somewhat rehearse the previous debate on the staffing of the shadow regulator. He should have received an answer to…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [Lords] (Fourth sitting)No one is disputing that. We are clear that the Bill does not stray into that. As I said to the hon. Gentleman, in his Government’s iteration of the Bill, the regulator had to…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)It is a pleasure once again to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I thank the shadow Minister for the amendment and the chance to clarify the Government’s position on the…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [Lords] (Fourth sitting)No, I did not say that.05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [ Lords ] (Third sitting)It is a real pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Turner. I thank the hon. Member for Old Bexley and Sidcup for his amendment. I understand that its intent is to put…05 Jun 2025HANSARDFootball Governance Bill [Lords] (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for his amendment, but I am not sure that his remarks spoke much to the detail of it. I remind him that this part of the Bill has not been changed since…05 Jun 2025