§ 11. Mr. William Priceasked the First Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will ask the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate the signing-on payments now being made to professional footballers.
§ Mr. AlbuNo. But I expect that this would be one of the matters which will 655 be looked at by the Committee to inquire into the state of association football which my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Education and Science, announced on 23rd June had been set up.
§ Mr. PriceIs my right hon. Friend aware that certain professional footballers are indulging in a form of blackmail? Does he know that they are demanding huge tax-free sums in addition to their wages before signing new contracts? Does he appreciate that the payments are concealed in general accounts, that as a result admission charges are going up, and that the clubs are blaming the Selective Employment Tax?
§ Mr. AlbuWe are aware of most of those things, but it would be preferable to allow the Committee which has been set up to consider all the aspects of football rather than just this one. We hope that the Committee will take into account the prices and incomes policy when it does so.