Written question asked by Ian Pearson (Labour) on Monday, 13 November 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 17 November 2000. It was answered by Baroness Hodge of Barking (Labour) on Friday, 17 November 2000 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, how many work permits have been granted to date to professional footballers (a) from non-EEA countries for the 1999-2000 season, (b) that had played for their country in at least 75 per cent. of the competitive, `A' team matches for which they were available for selection during the two years preceding the date of the work permit application and (c) from countries whose FIFA ranking was at or above 70th place in the official rankings list when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the work permit application. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Pearson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many work permits have been granted to date to professional footballers (a) from non-EEA countries for the 1999-2000 season, (b) that had played for their country in at least 75 per cent. of the competitive, `A' team matches for which they were available for selection during the two years preceding the date of the work permit application and (c) from countries whose FIFA ranking was at or above 70th place in the official rankings list when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the work permit application. [138626] Ms Hodge: For the 1999-2000 football season: (a) the Department granted 80 work permits to professional footballers from non-EEA countries for the 1999-2000 season; (b) 71 met the criteria of having played in at least 75 per cent. of their country's competitive `A' team matches for the two years preceding the date of work permit application; (c) 73 met the criteria of the player's country having a FIFA ranking of at or above 70th place in the official rankings list when averaged over the two years preceding the date of the application. Overall of the 80 permits issued, 65 met both of the published criteria--(b) and (c) in the question asked. The additional 15 permits were issued on the positive recommendations made to the Department by the independent football review panels.

Secondary information