HC Deb 20 April 1998 vol 310 cc470-1
12. Mr. Simon Hughes (Southwark, North and Bermondsey)

What steps he is taking to improve standards in cricket in the United Kingdom. [37418]

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Chris Smith)

Working through the English Sports Council, we are encouraging the England and Wales Cricket Board in its plans to widen access to the game, to build the quality of the competitive game in England and to improve performance in international competition.

Mr. Hughes

That is a good statement of principle, for which I thank the Secretary of State. Will he be more proactive in ensuring that standards are such that we can expect to win test series this year and in the future, rather than think that we will win, but then lose? Will he consider calling for an audit, local authority by local authority, of facilities for teaching cricket and of incentives to youngsters to learn? On each estate in constituencies such as his and mine, places could be marked out as nets—it is very simple—so that kids could play cricket in the yard just as they play football and other games. If that happened, we might get people who could win some test matches for us.

Mr. Smith

Like the hon. Gentleman, I look forward with a mixture of optimism and trepidation to the test matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka later this summer. It is important that we ensure the promotion of excellence, which is why we very much hope that the England and Wales Cricket Board will put forward proposals for a national cricket academy as part of the United Kingdom sports institute network.

It is also important that we consider the broad base of mass participation, which is why I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will have welcomed the decision that I took with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to halt the unnecessary sale of school playing fields, so that schoolchildren have the facilities to learn and play.

Mr. Robin Corbett (Birmingham, Erdington)

Will my right hon. Friend congratulate the England women's cricket team, which returned to this country yesterday morning—on the same plane as me—from its successful tour of South Africa? What steps are his Department taking to encourage more women to take part in cricket?

Mr. Smith

I congratulate both the England women's cricket team and my hon. Friend. I am particularly pleased that £157,000 of world-class performance grants have been made available to the team so that it can develop the excellence of its game. I am also pleased that the Women's Cricket Association has decided to merge with the England and Wales Cricket Board, which I think bodes well, especially for the board.

Sir Peter Tapsell (Louth and Horncastle)

Is it not rather bizarre that anyone should look to the Government to improve cricket, as the essence of new Labour spin doctoring is that it is not cricket?

Mr. Smith

The hon. Gentleman is batting on rather a sticky wicket. It is important that the Government ensure mass participation in sports of all kinds, including cricket, and excellence. Both are very much at the heart of the Government's sports policy.

Dr. Norman A. Godman (Greenock and Inverclyde)

As the question refers to cricket in the United Kingdom, may I remind the Secretary of State that cricket is played in Scotland and that Aberdeen cricket club had a Caribbean professional long before the 1939–45 war? I further remind him that some Scots have played for England, and that two of the world cup games will be played in Scotland. Will he impress upon my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland the need to increase coaching facilities throughout Scotland? My right hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Anniesland (Mr. Dewar) and his colleagues in the Scottish Office are not known as great cricket fans. We need an expansion of cricket coaching facilities throughout Scotland.

Mr. Smith

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is well known, however, as a man of great fairness and integrity and I am sure that he will have listened carefully to my hon. Friend, whose remarks I shall draw to his attention.