§ 8. Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the workings and finances of the Sports Council; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Neil Macfarlane)I have already reviewed the overall structure of the Sports Council with the aim of refining and improving its workings. I am in the process of slimming down membership by about one-third, and the chairman has reorganised the committee structure.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the Sports Council's grant-in-aid for 1982–83 will be £22.8 million. I have already met the chairman and agreed his budget proposals for that year. They reflect Government thinking by concentrating resources on the inner city areas. My officials have also discussed with the council's officials their long-term strategy and five-year rolling programme, which I expect to be submitted to me shortly.
§ Mr. DobsonWhen continuing his discussions with the Sports Council, will the Under-Secretary of State draw to the attention of the chairman the damaging effects of the untimely and ill-considered visit that he and some of his colleagues made to South Africa in 1980 and the contribution that that has made to the weakening in Britain of the back-up to the Gleneagles agreement? In future, will he ensure that the Sports Council does not subordinate the interests of other sports in Britain to those pressure groups from South Africa that wish to make that racist regime respectable, and in that way not follow the example of the Conservative Party's Back Bench sports group?
§ Mr. MacfarlanePerhaps I might set the record straight. The fact-finding visit by representatives of the 345 Sports Council was made in January 1980. On 1 May 1981 the Sports Council agreed that it would continue its policy of supporting the Gleneagles agreement.
§ Mr. Kenneth LewisDoes my hon. Friend agree that the Sports Council's main objective should now be to provide more facilities for the young unemployed? Is he aware that there are many playing fields attached to schools—the matter has been raised by some of us before—that are not used for large periods of the year? Is it not time that he contacted the education authorities and used his influence to get them to make those facilities available for use?
§ Mr. MacfarlaneYes, I accept that. Some issues have emerged in recent months. A sample survey, completed a few months ago, showed that in about 10 per cent. of local authorities, generally speaking, dual use in our schools is extremely encouraging, but there is still much work to be done. I have recently commissioned a survey, conducted by the chairman and management of the regional councils for sport and recreation, which shows good evidence that there is adequate provision of school playing fields for dual use. However, I am not yet satisfied that they are doing enough, and I shall make further moves in the next few weeks.
§ Mr. Denis HowellIn view of the unprecedented offers now being made to British sportsmen to forgo the interests of British sport, what action is the Sports Council taking through the governing bodies, and through talking to individual sportsmen, to protect the livelihoods of those still playing in Britain and to protect the great international sporting occasions, such as the Commonwealth Games, which will certainly be under threat if this activity continues?
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe right hon. Gentleman's point is important, but it is not necessarily the sole prerogative of the Sports Council to communicate the views of the Government to the governing bodies. I, too, discuss matters with governing bodies. However, I am encouraged by the fact that the Sports Council, as recently as 1 May 1981, reaffirmed its intention to support the Government on the Gleneagles agreement.