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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the reasons behind their decision to ask the Premier League to bail out the English Football League.

Football clubs are often the bedrock of our local communities and it is vital they are protected. That is why the Government has provided an unprecedented financial support package for businesses, which many football clubs have benefitted from.

The Government is focusing its direct support on those sports and clubs most urgently in need after the decision not to readmit spectators from 1 October. Having spent heavily in the recent transfer window, professional football has demonstrated that, at the top tiers, it has the means to support itself through the pandemic.

I was pleased that the Premier League has made it clear that it will not let any English Football League (EFL) club fail due to the pandemic and I expect significant progress to be made imminently on an agreement for a financial support package for EFL clubs.