League Cricket (Hansard, 9 May 2000)

§ Mr. Bob Russell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will meet representatives of the Lancashire Cricket Board to discuss the regulations relating to the employment of overseas professionals in league cricket. [121266]

§ Ms Hodge
Due to diary commitments, I am unable to meet representatives from the Board. I have arranged for representatives from the Department's Overseas Labour Service to contact the Board to discuss their concerns.

§ Mr. Bob Russell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations he has received on the employment of overseas professionals in league cricket; and if he will make a statement. [121265]

§ Ms Hodge
I have received a number of letters from Members of Parliament whose constituencies are in Lancashire. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with responsibility for work permit matters and I have given detailed replies explaining the current criteria for the employment of overseas cricketers which were agreed after consultation with the cricketing governing bodies who are responsible for the development of the game in the United Kingdom.

§ Mr. Bob Russell
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what regulations have been introduced in the past five years which change the existing arrangements whereby overseas professionals can be employed in league cricket; and if he will make a statement. [121264]

§ Ms Hodge
In 1993 criteria were introduced which required an overseas cricketer to have played in at least one first class match, as defined by the International Cricket Council (ICC), to qualify for issue of a work permit to play in league cricket.
This requirement remained until August 1998 when, after consultations with the English and Wales Cricket Board, the Scottish Cricket Union, and representatives of the League Cricket Conference, the criteria were changed. In order to qualify for a permit a player must have played 350W in a minimum of one test match for his country, or at least three one-day internationals, or at least five first class matches, as defined by the ICC. It was also decided that discretion would be exercised when considering applications for former test match players who did not meet this criteria.
Work permit arrangements for cricket players are reviewed annually between the Department's Overseas Labour Service and the relevant cricket governing bodies.