HC Deb 14 December 1998 vol 322 cc594-7
9. Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

What steps he is taking to encourage greater levels of participation in sport among young people. [62135]

The Minister for Sport (Mr. Tony Banks)

We are working with the English Sports Council on a number of schemes for young people through the national junior sport programme, such as Top Play and BT Top Sport, on which the English Sports Council works closely with the Youth Sport Trust. There is also the sporting ambassadors scheme, a new scheme to provide opportunities for successful sportsmen and sportswomen of all ages to visit schools to enthuse young people about the benefits of physical activity and a healthy life style.

The national junior sport programme actively encourages all governing bodies of sport to have programmes in place to promote our sport for all policy and increase participation in all sports, from the grass roots through to elite competitors.

Mr. Bercow

I am grateful for that reply. Does the Minister recall telling the House on 5 June 1998 that primary school children should undertake a minimum of three hours of sport a week in school? In the 192 days that have elapsed since that confident statement, what progress has the Minister made?

Mr. Banks

I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on his compendious memory. What a sad person he must be to store such great detail. At the time, I was expressing what I saw as a desirable objective. I assume that the hon. Gentleman knows that neither the Secretary of State for Education and Employment nor I, in my humble position in another Department, can specify the number of hours spent on each subject of the national curriculum. I mentioned what I saw as a desirable objective and I am doing my best to encourage others to see my point of view, not always successfully.

Mr. Andrew Reed (Loughborough)

May I thank the Minister for welcoming the work of the Youth Sport Trust which, as he knows, is based in my constituency in Loughborough? It has had an enormous impact in bringing sport back into schools, especially primary schools, through the BT Top Sport programme. What representations has my hon. Friend made to the Secretary of State for Education and Employment to increase the levels of participation in schools? Education is a key area in which we can make a difference. What impact has the sale of school playing fields over the past 15 years had on the amount of sport played in schools?

Mr. Banks

I associate myself entirely with my hon. Friend's views on the Youth Sport Trust, which is a wonderful organisation. My congratulations go to Sue Campbell and her staff on their achievements in giving equipment to primary schools to enable young children to get used to sport. That is a wonderful thing to do.

The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority is considering revisions to the curriculum, and formal and informal consultations will take place next year. I hope that everybody who feels as strongly as I do about the role of physical education in schools will make representations. My hon. Friend can rest assured that I will do so, and I hope that my views will be listened to.

One of the first decisions this Government took was to stop the sale of school playing fields, which was an appalling act inflicted on schools by the Conservative Government. It clearly had an impact on the level of recreational facilities in schools. As one of my hon. Friends has said, it has affected our ability to perform well at cricket. The Conservatives, therefore, are entirely responsible for what is going on in Australia at the moment.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey)

Is it not true that the Minister does not have a clue how to arrest the decline of sport in our schools? While I understand his desire to get away from it all on exotic foreign trips, which is presumably where he picks up all his banana skins, does he accept that for the time being—although it may not be for long—he has responsibility for the future of sport and it cannot be met by keeping his fingers crossed and shooting his mouth off into his own goal?

Mr. Banks

I must say that on one of my state visits to Parliament it is a bit much to be insulted at the Dispatch Box by a Kevin Keegan lookalike. My work abroad is in pursuit of affecting the decision on 2006 and it is hard graft. The hon. Gentleman does not know how hard I have to work when I am abroad on behalf of the country and our great national game of football.

I shall continue to make representations to the Department for Education and Employment, but the decisions are for Ministers in that Department. All I can do is use the best offices I can muster to try to encourage the continued playing of sport in schools. The Government recognise that physical education is an important part of the national curriculum, and it will remain so.

Mr. John Maxton (Glasgow, Cathcart)

While it is important that leading sports personalities should visit schools to encourage youngsters to take part in sport, is not it equally essential that that should be followed up by the closest possible liaison between sports bodies and clubs and local schools so that the clubs can provide the coaching and organisation that the schools are now often incapable of providing?

Mr. Banks

There is obviously a role for greater co-ordination between schools and sports clubs. There is also concern that while sporting facilities and opportunities are available in schools, there is a gap immediately after that. The English Sports Council is particularly keen on closer liaison, which is absolutely essential.

I hope that my hon. Friend is encouraged by the after school clubs that are linking, for example, football clubs with local schools. I attended a wonderful launch at West Ham football club recently along with kids from local schools. Every school in Newham wants to get involved in the scheme, because there is a magic in getting into a local football club. The kids are receptive, and they want to learn. They are putting in more hours than they are asked for because sport can inspire children as well as putting them in a mood that makes them more receptive to learning. I consider getting such things right as an essential part of my job.

Mr. Graham Brady (Altrincham and Sale, West)

I welcome the importance that the Minister attaches to retaining school playing fields, but is he aware that a great many other playing fields are under threat? In my area, the borough of Trafford has two proposals to build houses on playing fields belonging to Bowdon cricket and hockey club and to the local authority. Will the Minister turn his attention to retaining that type of sporting facility?

Mr. Banks

I understand that Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions planning guidelines will take that point into consideration. There are many under-utilised recreational facilities around the country, and I have tried to link up with some clearly under-utilised company sports grounds. Banks and commercial institutions used to provide wonderful facilities for their staff, but as technology has advanced and staff numbers have shrunk, those facilities have become under-used. At the Kodak company fun day recently, I found that Kodak is working with the community and a private sector provider to utilise recreational facilities, and several such initiatives are happening. I welcome the support of the hon. Member for Altrincham and Sale, West (Mr. Brady) for what we are doing.

Mr. Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey)

Will the Minister reflect on the fact that one thing lost in schools over the past 30 years is ground staff? Will he compare that fact with the position in our parks, where our cricket fields have been dug up and our football fields have gone? Will he think again about the science of ground staff work, and its place at the National Institute of Sport?

Mr. Banks

I am considering asking my agent to seek a transfer for me to the Department for Education and Employment, as many questions to me could equally be directed to my right hon. and hon. Friends there. Yes, of course there is a science involved in ground staff work. Clearly, for example, we need the ability to prepare cricket tables in a way that might offer us more opportunity of winning, a science in which, perhaps, we lag at present.