TEST CRICKET AND LISTED EVENTS

Early day motion 400, tabled 15 December 2004 by John Grogan (Labour). Signed by 49 members.

That this House notes with dismay the decision of the England and Wales Cricket Board to award exclusive live coverage of all test and county cricket to Sky Television; recognises that this decision was made despite the opposition of former England cricket captains Alec Stewart, Mike Gatting and Brian Close; fears that many people young and old will not be denied the pleasure of enjoying watching cricket live in their living rooms despite the fact that some test match grounds have received a great deal of Lottery funding; acknowledges that in 1999 the Government agreed to withdraw home test cricket matches from the Listed Events which must be made available live to terrestrial television at a fair and reasonable price; notes that in Australia all test matches home and away are available on free to air television; and calls upon the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to undertake a review of the Listed Events with a view to restoring events of national interest to the List including test cricket and the final day of the Ryder Cup.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 12, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 3, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1.