I refer to our previous correspondence and would advise you that the Scottish Football Association hosted a meeting on Friday, 17 September 1999, with the Scottish Premier League, The Scottish Football League and the Scottish Professional Footballers' Association to discuss this matter.

  It was decided that each body would reply individually to you prior to the deadline of 15 October 1999.

  A Work Permit arrangement has been in operation since 1979 and throughout this period there have been agreed changes to the criteria following upon regular consultation between the football authorities and the relevant government departments. The arrangement during this period has operated well in Scotland.

  However, the number of non-Scottish born players playing for clubs in Scotland has increased dramatically since 1979 to the present day position where the Association believes that the balance between Scottish born players and those who are E.U./E.E.A. nationals or Work Permit players is now of concern. I enclose statistics concerning the number of non-Scottish players playing football in Scotland which may be of assistance to the enquiry. This situation will ultimately have a detrimental effect upon the Association's national teams caused by a blockage effect whereby there will not be a sufficient number of Scottish born players with the necessary club and European experience being available for selection for the international teams due to the ever increasing number of foreign nationals playing in Scotland. It is therefore the view of the Association that the Work Permit arrangements are necessary to safeguard the development of home-grown talent. That having been said it is recognised that the importation of a limited number of internationally established football stars who will make a significant contribution to the development of football at the highest level stimulates the game in this country and is also welcomed by the public. Home based professionals benefit from this stimulation of the game of course, and it could be said that the employment of some foreign players works, therefore, to their advantage. To this end the Association has a self-imposed policy of supporting the issue of up to a maximum of 10 Work Permits at any given time.

  As stated previously prior to the changes in July 1999, the criteria for issuing Work Permits have been applied in Scotland without any great problems and it would appear that they have been modified due to difficulties mainly encountered in England. The changes introduced in July 1999, have made it easier to obtain Work Permits for players and now that the football authorities are no longer involved in the consultation process, some of the in-built controls which helped regulate the operation have now been removed.

  In summing up, it has to be said that the balance between Scottish born players and non-Scottish born players playing football in Scotland is awry. It is therefore necessary to have agreed regulations for Work Permit players to protect the development of home-grown players although compared to E.E.U./E.E.A. born players, the number of Work Permit players playing in Scotland is low. However, to protect resident labour, the criteria should not be watered down to the extent that the standard of Work Permit player coming to this country is lowered.

  I trust that the foregoing may be of assistance to your sub-committee and its enquiry and I would also confirm that the Association would be willing to give oral evidence once written submissions have been received by the sub-committee.

The Scottish Football Association

October 1999