§ Mr. AshtonTo ask the Secretary of State for38W Education and Employment if she will make a statement on (i) the new criteria for work permits for foreign football players (a) when they first enter the country, (b) after the first full 12 months and set number of appearances and (c) on moving to another United Kingdom football club and (ii) the likely effect on extra work permits of the EC ruling on foreign players; and if she will meet the Football Association and the Professional Footballers Association in the near future to discuss the new situation and the outcome of the Bosman decision. [21260]
§ Mrs. GillanThe work permit criteria remain unchanged for foreign footballers when they first enter the country and where they are retained by their club after the first or successive season. Permits are normally issued only for current internationals. To qualify for extension of their work permits, footballers must normally play in approximately 75 per cent. of their club's first team games. The work permit criteria governing transfer to another club have been revised to allow players who are current internationals one work permit transfer to a new club regardless of the number of first team appearances they have made for their existing club. Thereafter, to qualify for a further permit they will again normally be expected to play in approximately 75 per cent. of first team games.
The Department consulted the football bodies about the revised criteria. The decision of the European Court of Justice in the Bosman case concerns transfer fees and rules operated by the sporting bodies. It does not affect the issue of work permits.