§ 9. Mr. Canavanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will discuss with the Scottish Sports Council the effect on Scottish sport of Government policy concerning the employment of footballers from other countries.
§ Mr. McElhoneSuch discussion is not necessary as my right hon. Friend is already aware of the views of the national football bodies in Scotland.
§ Mr. CanavanDoes my hon. Friend agree that the refusal of a work permit to the Hibs Norwegian player, Izak Refrik, indicates that the Department of Employment is being autocratic and intransigent and that it is hopelessly out of touch with the needs of Scottish football, which would be the poorer if players such as Refrik were forced to leave? In view of this and the apparent differences of opinion on this matter between the Scottish Office and the Department of Employment, will my hon. Friend refer the matter to the Prime Minister in the hope of coming to a favourable common sense decision?
§ Mr. McElhoneI am afraid that exaggeration seems to be the order of the day so far at Question Time. I have attended two meetings at the Department of Employment, and I do not concede the expression that my hon. Friend has used about my hon. Friend at that Department. After all, Hibernian football club caused this problem itself. It received advice from the Department of Employment about work permits, yet it still brought in these young players.
The criteria set down by the Department of Employment are well known. It is no secret that I disagree with the criteria, as do the Scottish Football Association and the players, union in Scotland. We have the difficulty that the players' union in England and, indeed, the Welsh Football Association and foot- 644 ball authorities in England want to maintain the status quo, that is to say, the present criteria. But there is an understanding about the Scottish position because of the numbers of people who attend Scottish matches, apart from Rangers and Celtic matches, and those of one or two other clubs.
§ Finally,—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. A yellow card is indicated.
§ Mr. McElhoneIf you knew how sensitive this issue was in Scotland, Mr. Speaker, you would be giving out red cards across the way.
Discussions are still going on. We hope that common sense will prevail in this matter.
§ Mr. CrawfordI congratulate the hon. Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on discovering that this place discriminates against Scotland. Will he, the Labour Party and the Conservative Party be intellectually honest with them-selves—
§ Mr. Gordon WilsonImpossible.
§ Mr. Crawford—and realise that if they talk about Scotland as a separate foot-balling nation, the logical sequel is that it should be a separate political nation?
§ Mr. McElhoneI do not want to waste the time of the House by answering that question.
§ Mr. MonroDoes the Minister accept that he and the Government are making astonishingly heavy weather over allowing this gifted young footballer to play for Hibernian? Does he also agree that he has given the complete lie to ministerial responsibility, in that his view is totally contrary to that of a fellow colleague in the Government? Surely the position cannot be allowed to remain as he stated it today. Will he give a categoric assurance that he will go to the Department of Employment this afternoon, agree to discuss the matter, be flexible and allow this young lad to play football in Scotland?
§ Mr. McElhoneThe hon. Gentleman, who has sporting interests at heart, should know that it is not for me or for other Ministers to make a decision on the spot. We have to consult the various football 645 bodies. This is not a sporting problem but a work permit one. We have to be careful that in solving the problem of a Hibernian football player we do not abuse the work permit system in general.