§ 46. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to appoint a National Sports Council, and recommend a suitable financial annual grant so that the council may function in the same form that the Arts Council does.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. I do not think that this would be appropriate. As I said on 20th November in reply to the hon. Lady the Member for Coventry, South (Miss Burton) the Government's financial assistance to the development of sport in general is given through local authorities and directly to voluntary and other bodies.
§ Mr. Ellis SmithI appreciate what has been done in this respect, but in view of the need for central direction, central consideration and central control of sport in Britain, will the Prime Minister reconsider that reply?
§ The Prime MinisterI will, of course, consider it, but I would have thought that this was particularly one of those matters best dealt with by local devolution.