§ 14. Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what additional money he intends giving to the district councils of Northern Ireland to enable them to undertake some of the work at present carried out by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. GoodhartThe money that would be available to the Sports Council for those specific tasks would normally be available to district councils.
§ Mr. ParryDoes the Minister accept that nobody will be fooled by that sop to the district councils? Is it not a fact that the bulk of the work that he wishes to transfer cannot be carried out by district councils without complementary assistance from the Sports Council? Will he reconsider the issue?
§ Mr. GoodhartOver the years the district councils have built up a substantial body of expertise in that area. I have no reason to believe that they will not be able to carry out those tasks.
§ Mr. SoleyWhat assurances can the Minister give the House that the changes will ensure adequate provision for all members of the community in Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. GoodhartThe Department of Education will maintain a strict supervisory role in that area.
§ Mr. Wm. RossDid not the Minister say earlier that, out of the £700,000 disbursed by the Sports Council, £400,000 was used for grants and £300,000 used to meet administrative costs? Did he not further point out that only half of the staff of the Sports Council were administrative staff? Therefore, the remainder must have been experts. Did he not mislead the House when he claimed that £300,000 went on administrative costs, because half of the staff were sports experts, giving advice to councils?
§ Mr. GoodhartThose with expertise in the sporting world were also carrying out substantial administrative tasks.
§ Mr. JohnHas the Minister been briefed to the effect that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has undertaken to review this decision? How does he come to speak in the terms that he has this afternoon, with such a sturdy defence of the Government's decision? How on earth can he be satisfied that an impartial review will be made?
§ Mr. GoodhartI have seen the record of the hon. Gentleman's discussion with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my noble Friend. In the next few days a letter will be sent from my right hon. Friend to those who took part in the discussion.