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Petitions

Volume 647: debated on Tuesday 9 October 2018

Petitions

Tuesday 9 October 2018

OBSERVATIONS

Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Football club ownership

The petition of residents of Newcastle upon Tyne Central,

Declares that football is an integral part of Newcastle upon Tyne’s social and cultural wellbeing; notes that fans of Newcastle United are heavily invested both financial and emotionally in the success of the team; further that the current manager Rafa Benitez needs the support of both fans and the club’s owner; further that this support should include investment in players, training facilities and community engagement; and further that the owner Mike Ashley has not made this support forthcoming.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to take action to prevent unscrupulous football club owners from exploiting the clubs, their fans and local communities, with particular reference to Mike Ashley and Newcastle United FC.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Chi Onwurah, Official Report, 24 July 2018; Vol. 645, c. 984.]

[P002251]

Observations from the Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (Tracey Crouch):

The Government note the petition of 24 July, and make the following observations:

The Government welcome the opportunity to respond to the concerns raised over the ownership of professional football clubs and in particular that of Newcastle United FC, one of our oldest and best supported clubs.

In order to take up a controlling interest in a club, individuals must prior to becoming an owner, and then annually, pass an Owners and Directors test (formerly fit and proper persons). The Test is an assessment of who is legally fit to own a football club. It is based on a set of objective criteria, such as whether an individual is banned from being a company director or has been involved in more than one administration at a football club since 2004.

The football authorities have agreed to keep the Owners and Directors Test under regular review and to listen to supporters’ concerns. This commitment is set out in the Government’s Expert Working Group’s report on Supporter Ownership and Engagement published in early 2016.

The Premier League has additional, wide-ranging rules in the areas of club ownership and finance. Under League rules, the ultimate beneficial owners of all clubs must be publicly disclosed. The full chain of ownership must also be disclosed to the League. Prospective new owners have to meet the Premier League Board and provide extensive detail on the sources and sufficiency of funding they have in place.

Clubs must also submit information on the financial structure of any proposed investment, and a business plan demonstrating that all liabilities can be met for at least 12 months ahead; submit independently audited accounts to the Premier League each season; and submit quarterly reports demonstrating they are up to date with PAYE and NI payments to Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs.

The Government wholeheartedly recognise that football clubs are valuable to their local communities, and the utmost care should be taken by their owners and stakeholders to protect their long-term future. Further, the Government recognise that fans have every right to ask questions of those that run their clubs. It is essential we have healthy football clubs, and owners who care for and respect their tradition and fan base.

The Government have invested significant time over the last few years to find ways to improve supporter engagement beyond the customer relationship, into recognising them as an integral part of clubs’ success. A key recommendation (which is now enshrined in football’s rulebooks) from the Government’s Expert Working Group on football supporter ownership and engagement is that all clubs in the top four divisions must ensure there is open dialogue between club owners/senior executives and their supporter groups on the matters of most importance to the running of the club. These meetings lead the way in ensuring fans are better informed and consulted on club activities, including its financial standing, future plans; and other matters of real importance. The Government believe this structured engagement is helping to build relationships over time.

Turning specifically to Newcastle United FC, the Government are not aware of any failing by the current owners to meet the Premier League’s requirements to ensure facilities are maintained to the required standard, to comply with the financial reporting and ownership criteria rule outlined above, nor the requirement to meet with supporters to discuss matters important to the running of the club. The Government, however, have noted the concern among supporters that has led to this petition and would encourage the ownership of Newcastle United FC to review the way they currently engage with fans to see if more can be achieved in this area.

The Government will continue to hold the football authorities to account for ensuring there are regulations in place that encourage good governance, sustainable investment and ensure there is dialogue with supporters.

Education

Home Education: draft guidance and the consultation

The petition of residents of Brighton Pavilion,

Declare that the “Home Education—Call for Evidence and revised DfE guidance” has been written following significant consultation with local authorities and no consultation whatsoever with the home education community; further that the consultation is consequently for little more than show as an intention to implement the content has already been stated: further that it seeks to encourage local authorities to breach the ECHR Article 8 and the GDPR; and further that the report provides no accessible means for a parent to address ultra vires behaviour by their local authority, where many of those authorities already act routinely in an ultra vires manner.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to withdraw the draft guidance and the consultation, until it has put in place an accessible and workable complaints procedure and further has consulted with home educating parents, as it has with Local Authorities, what the contents should include.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Caroline Lucas, Official Report, 12 September 2018; Vol. 646, c. 23P.]

[P002266]

Observations fromthe Minister for School Standards (Nick Gibb):

The consultation “Home Education—Call for Evidence and revised DfE guidance” closed on 2 July 2018. The relevant documents can be found at:

https://consult.education.gov.uk/school-frameworks/home-education-call-for-evidence-and-revised-dfe-a/.

As well as the call for evidence, the consultation includes draft versions of two guidance documents on the current arrangements for home education. These are intended to replace the Department for Education’s current non-statutory guidance for local authorities, which is to be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/elective-home-education.

The Department discussed home education with stakeholders in the normal course of business up to the launch of the consultation on 10 April.

All responses to the consultation will be considered before publishing the finalised guidance documents. At no point has the Department stated an intention to publish them as final versions without revision in the light of responses received to the consultation.

Representations on whether the contents of the two draft guidance documents breach Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to private and family life) or the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (as embodied into UK law in the Data Protection Act 2018), will be taken into account as we consider responses to the consultation.

The documents in their draft form contain no reference to remedies for behaviour by local authorities. This is because no special provision for this is necessary in respect of home education. The Education Act 1996 already contains general provisions for this purpose relating to local authorities. However, the Department will consider whether the finalised versions of the guidance documents should contain specific information on this.

This Department does not recognise the suggestion that consultation has been flawed or inadequate. Several thousand responses, the majority of which have come from home educating families, have been received, as well as a substantial petition, and there has been considerable opportunity for detailed comment and input from such families. Following the consultation and consideration of the responses, the two guidance documents will be published in the autumn of 2018 in their revised and finalised form. In addition, a formal Government response document analysing responses to the call for evidence, and setting out next steps, will also be published in the autumn of 2018.

Housing, Communities and Local Government

Funding cuts to North Lincolnshire Citizens Advice Bureau

The petition of residents of North Lincolnshire,

Declares that the decision of North Lincolnshire Council to cease their core funding for North Lincolnshire Citizens Advice Bureau is putting the long-term future of the Citizens Advice Bureau at risk, and means that service provision will be adversely affected and jobs will be lost at an outstanding organisation which has served the North Lincolnshire community so well for such a long time.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to intervene with North Lincolnshire Council to keep the funding for North Lincolnshire Citizens Advice Bureau.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Nic Dakin, Official Report, 17 July 2018; Vol. 645, c. 374.]

[P002216]

Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Rishi Sunak):

The Government recognise the important role that councils play in helping to support community services, which is why the 2018-19 Local Government finance settlement sees a £1.3 billion increase in resources to Local Government over the next two years.

Our fair and sustainable financial settlement gives local authorities the ability to protect important local services. As democratically elected organisations, local authorities are independent of central Government and are responsible for managing their budgets in line with local priorities.

The Government expect local authorities to take on the challenge of making savings, while continuing to provide a range of high quality services to local communities.

Wales

Park Rangers in Wrexham County Borough Council

The petition of residents of Cefn Mawr in Clwyd South,

Declares that nature parks are an important part of our environmental heritage; further that they provide an area in which residents and visitors can enjoy nature and open spaces and play a vital role in the conversation and protection of nature; and further that local country parks including Ty Mawr Country Park, Nant Mill Country Park and Alyn Waters Country Park are well used by the community and attract visitors to the area, therefore helping to support the local economy.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to urge Wrexham County Borough Council to reverse their decision to reduce funding for Park Rangers, whose role is vital to the continued existence of unspoilt country parks in Clwyd South constituency.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Susan Elan Jones, Official Report, 18 April 2018; Vol. 639, c. 377.]

[P002133]

Observations from the Secretary of State for Wales (Alun Cairns):

Local government in Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales and the Welsh Government. Therefore, it would not be appropriate for the UK Government to comment on this issue.