Sports Council (Hansard, 25 November 1986)

§ Mr. Denis Howell (Birmingham, Small Heath)
I beg to ask leave to more the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the Government's decision within the Estimates of the Department of the Environment to discriminate against the work of the Sports Council, especially in vital inner city areas, the failure of the Secretary of State at any time since he has been in office to meet the chairman of the Sports Council, or his sports Minister to hold any discussions with the Sports Council upon the effect of these cuts, which amount to £25 million of sports development, and to call for their resignations. This year there has been a £1.3 million cut in the Sports Council's budget. That is very serious. As a ratio of 19:1, that means that £25 million worth of inner city sports provision will not now go ahead. The cut has been justified on the basis that last year the Sports Council had an exceptional £5 million grant, but that grant was to compensate for the loss of the Greater London council and the metropolitan counties. Even on last year's showing, this amounts to a further confidence trick by the Government regarding sport in the inner cities.
I can give one or two examples of the serious nature of the situation. At Southwark, the conversion of a former Sainsbury's store into a community centre will not take place. At Brixton, an athletics track will not be built. At Darlaston, in the west midlands, the conversion of a bus depot into a sports centre for handicapped people will not take place. At Gorton in Manchester, a gymnastics centre and at Bury in Lancashire two dual use schemes will not be created.

§ Mr. Speaker
The right hon. Gentleman has one more minute.

§ Mr. Howell
Since he was appointed, the Secretary of State has not had the courtesy even to meet the chairman 150 of the Sports Council, and the Under-Secretary did not discuss any of the cuts before they were imposed. Every other sector covered by the Department of the Environment has received large increases or at least increases to cover inflation. The House should consider urgently whether the two Ministers should resign.

§ Mr. Speaker
The right hon. Member has asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 20 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter which he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the reasons why the Government have declined to provide adequate funds to the Sports Council for 1987–88 in order to carry out its inner city sports development programme. As the right hon. Gentleman and the House know, I have to decide whether to give this matter precedence over the business set down for today or tomorrow. I regret that I do not consider the matter that he has raised as being appropriate for discussion under Standing Order No. 20, and I cannot therefore submit his application to the House.