Hunt wishes 'every success' for England football squad

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt has sent a message of support to the England team ahead of their crucial match against Slovenia.

MPs cheered as Mr Hunt said: "I know that the whole House will want to wish Fabio Capello and the England team every success for the match on Wednesday night."

During Commons question time on 21 June 2010, Mr Hunt also told Tory MP Therese Coffey that Britain's 2018 World Cup bid was an "extraordinary opportunity".

He added: "The government is fully committed to it and I and the prime minister and the minister for sport and the Olympics [Hugh Robertson] have all spoken to or met Fifa executive committee members who will be making the decision."

He said he had been in South Africa at the weekend and "saw for myself how the World Cup can unify, enthuse and excite a country - I'm absolutely determined we do the same for this country in 2018".

Following Mr Hunt's departmental question session, MPs put questions to Deputy Leader of the House David Heath on parliamentary sitting dates, a backbench business committee and public confidence in Parliament.