§ Baroness Anelay of St. Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the appointment of trustees and senior staff to the new Football Foundation will follow Nolan rules and be subject to public advertisement. [HL1626]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyDiscussions are continuing between the Football Association, FA Premier League, Sport England and DCMS on the creation of the Football Foundation. The foundation will not be a government body but an independent organisation for which the football authorities are seeking charitable status. As such, the foundation will not fall under the remit of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).
It is currently envisaged that the Government and Sport England will each have the right to appoint a director to the board of the foundation. While this appointment by government is not subject to the full OCPA procedures, the Government will ensure that the underlying principles do apply; that is, the appointment will be made on the basis of merit against a role specification and from a field of candidates.
The appointment of the foundation's staff will be a matter for the foundation's board, once established, though it is anticipated that the existing staff of the Football Trust will transfer to the foundation on the winding up of the trust. These staff will be supplemented, as necessary, by open recruitment by the foundation, once established.