Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Premier League's fit and proper persons test for appointing appropriate club owners.

Football clubs are the heart of local communities, they have unique social value and many with a great history. It is vital they are protected.

The Owners’ and Directors’ Tests are administered by the football authorities and consider the objective suitability of prospective owners and directors. They are not subjective tests of intentions or capability. However, the Government is committed to undertaking a fan led review of football governance, which will include consideration of the Owners’ and Directors’ test.

I recently met with the EFL to discuss the progress of their own review into club governance and will continue to work closely with the football authorities as we decide the scope and structure of the government review.