This In Focus briefing provides background information in advance of the second reading in the House of Lords of the Accessible Sports Grounds Bill [HL] on 17 July 2015.
Accessible Sports Grounds Bill [HL] (129KB PDF)
The Accessible Sports Grounds Bill [HL] was introduced by Lord Faulkner of Worcester (Labour) on 28 May 2015. It is scheduled for second reading in the House of Lords on 17 July 2015. The Bill contains three clauses:
• Clause 1 would amend the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 to provide local authorities with the power to refuse to issue a safety certificate to a large sports stadium where it considers, or it has been advised by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority, that the stadium does not comply with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority’s Accessible Stadia guidelines. Section 1 of the 1975 Act defines a large sports stadium as one able to accommodate more than 10,000 spectators.
• Clause 2 would ensure that compliance with the guidance became a condition of the issuing of a safety certificate.
• Clause 3 sets out that the Bill would apply to England, Wales and Scotland.
Lord Faulkner has said that legislation is now required to ensure compliance with the guidance because the “voluntary approach has not worked and compulsion is necessary”.
Accessible Sports Grounds Bill [HL] (129KB PDF)
The Creative Education Access Bill [HL] would introduce a minimum entitlement to creative and cultural education for pupils at state-funded schools in England. The bill would establish a minimum number of hours of creative learning per week and would require schools to take reasonable steps to develop partnerships with the creative sector.
![Creative Education Access Bill [HL]: HL Bill 17 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Culture-media-and-sport-568x426.png)
The Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames (Liberal Democrat). The bill would provide certain protections for cohabiting couples, for example in the event one of them dies. Its second reading is scheduled for 17 July 2026.
![Cohabitation Rights Bill [HL]: HL Bill 14 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Family-and-civil-law-568x426.png)
The second reading of the Sporting Events Bill [HL] is due to take place in the House of Lords on 3 June 2026. The bill would establish a common legislative framework that could be applied to major sporting events in the UK. It would cover ticket touting, advertising and trading, unauthorised association and transport.
![Sporting Events Bill [HL]: HL Bill 3 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/camilocote-stadium-181457-568x320.jpg)