To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many work permit applications have been made to her Department for Premier and Endsleigh league footballers from overseas (a) during the past four years and (b) for 1995 to date; which English football clubs were involved; which countries of origin were involved; and how many applications were refused. [34871]

The number of work permit applications for footballers from overseas, including those for extensions to existing permits, received by the Department from clubs in Great Britain is shown in the following table. Information about which clubs applied, the nationality of these overseas players involved and the number of these applications which were refused is not available.