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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times since 1 October 2011 Ministers or officials in his Department met (a) the FA, (b) the Premier League, (c) the Football League, (d) Supporters Direct and (e) the Football Supporters Federation to discuss setting up the expert working group on forging stronger links between football supporters and professional football clubs; and if he will make a statement.

Ministers and officials meet with stakeholders across football on a regular basis. The Expert Working Group on Supporter Ownership and Engagement was developed in partnership with the football authorities and supporter representation groups and has their full support. The Group held its first meeting on the 25^th November, and has issued a Call for Evidence and agreed Terms of Reference for the Group: these have been published on the DCMS website https://www.gov.uk/government/news/football-supporter-ownership-and-engagement-expert-working-group-issues-call-for-evidence

I expect initial recommendations from the Expert Group this parliament, and a full report later in 2015.