Part of Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 28 February 1991.
The hon. Gentleman has a considerable interest in this matter. The ability of the smaller league clubs, not only in Scotland but in England and Wales, to meet the August 1999 deadline for all-seater stadia would, of course, be considerably strengthened if my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer extended the cut in pools betting duty, as the hon. Gentleman suggests. My right hon. Friend has said that he will be prepared to take an early decision on the matter as soon as it is clear that football is contributing on a significant scale out of its own resources to the work that needs to be done. The sooner that that commitment is made, the sooner my right hon. Friend will be able to take a decision. There is some progress, but any encouragement that the hon. Gentleman could give in Scotland and elsewhere would bring forward the date of that review.