§ Miss KirkbrideTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on football broadcasting rights and the role of the EU Commission. [145577]
§ Estelle MorrisThe European Commission and the Premier League announced that they had agreed the terms of a settlement of the competition inquiry on 16 December. Although the detailed terms of this are yet to be finalised, the agreement is clearly very good news for English football.
One of the Government's primary concerns during the inquiry was the health of football at all levels. Substantial public funds are invested in the development of grass roots football in partnership with the Premier League. So although it was right that the Premier League made its own case to the Commission, the Government encouraged both parties to engage in constructive dialogue throughout the inquiry.