§ Mr. FaberTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brent, North (Mr. Gardiner), of 24 January734W 2000, Official Report, column 87W, on what date the Football Association proposed that £20 million be returned to Sport England; what form this proposal took; and where the proposal was made. [107296]
§ Kate Hoey[holding answer 28 January 2000]: An informal proposal was made by David Richards, Chairman of the FA Premier League on 16 December 1999 in the margins of a meeting at No. 10 to discuss the proposed Football Foundation. This was relayed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State by DCMS officials and followed up by more formal discussions between my Department and the Football Association. These concluded with the meeting between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and Mr. Ken Bates on 22 December 1999 at which it was agreed that £20 million would be returned over the next five years, with best endeavours to repay the money more quickly if possible. The precise details of the repayment are matters for Sport England and the Football Association.