Baroness Brady (Con)

My Lords, I refer the Committee to my interests as declared on the register. I want to address a comment made by the noble Baroness. The assertion that the Premier League has made no substantial proposals during negotiations is not true and not borne out by the facts. The Premier League has put forward multiple comprehensive proposals alongside detailed financial models and heads of terms, which were also provided to DCMS. Each was designed to significantly increase solidarity contributions while ensuring financial controls that the additional funding encouraged sustainability and not wage inflation. I am informed that the EFL did not keep its clubs fully apprised of the proposals made by the Premier League, nor did the EFL at any stage recommend the Premier League’s proposals to its member clubs or recommend to its board that they may be accepted. So there has been progress, and offers have been made by the Premier League that have not been put by the EFL. It is categorically wrong to suggest that any delay is wholly or in part because of the Premier League.