Committees

Lords seeks clarification from Sports Minister

1 November 2018

The EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee has written again to Tracey Crouch MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society, asking for clarity on the effect that ending free movement from the EU may have on sport.

Background

The Sub-Committee wrote to the Minister after its inquiry into 'Brexit: freedom of movement in the fields of sport and culture', highlighting concerns about the impact Brexit will have on EU citizens working in the UK sports sector and asking for clarification on the UK Government's policy. The Minister responded to our letter on the 10 August 2018. The Sub-Committee decided to wait for the publication of the Migration Advisory Committee's (MAC) final report on EEA migration in the UK to inform its reply. It has now written again to the Minister, raising further concerns.

Questions

The Committee asked the following questions:

  • Has the Government assessed whether extra Tier 5 or Tier 2 visas will need to be issued for EU27 sportspeople wishing to enter the UK post-Brexit, and if so, how many extra visas might be needed?
  • Has the Government considered how salary thresholds might have an effect on the numbers of sportspeople who will be able to enter the UK in the future? 
  • How will non-elite EU27 sportspeople enter the UK after the end of the transition period? Will the Government introduce a preferential system for EU27 sportspeople, or will they fall under the rules that currently exist for non-EU sportspeople?
  • Under the terms of an association agreement with the EU as envisaged by the future relationship White Paper, would UK sportspeople be able to play in EU sports teams as “homegrown” players, post-Brexit? And could EU sportspeople continue to play in the UK as “homegrown” players?

Further information

 Image: PA