Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether she or her Department's officials raised the cases of political detainees, prisoners of conscience and other human rights concerns with officials from (a) the English Premier League and (b) Newcastle United Football Club in connection with the proposed purchase of that Club by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund.

The Department has had no contact with Newcastle United. FCDO officials met English Premier League officials at the latter's request. FCDO officials provided an overview of the UK relationship with Saudi Arabia. FCDO officials were clear that any prospective takeover of Newcastle United was a matter for the two parties concerned.