HC Deb 17 May 1999 vol 331 cc622-5
2. Mr. Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley)

What representations he has received about the democratic accountability of governing bodies within sport. [83408]

The Minister for Sport (Mr. Tony Banks)

I receive representations on a wide range of issues from, and about, many of the 414 governing bodies of sport in the UK which are, of course, independent and autonomous bodies and are accountable to their members. However, where governing bodies are in receipt of Exchequer funding, they are required to address issues of equity and representation.

Mr. Stringer

I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. However, I was thinking more about the democratic accountability of international sporting bodies. Given the corruption that has been proved in the International Olympic Committee and the corruption that has been alleged against members of FIFA, can my hon. Friend assure the House that the public money that is going into supporting England's bid to host the 2006 world cup will not be wasted by corrupt practices in FIFA?

Mr. Banks

I am not responsible for international governing bodies, but I can certainly give my hon. Friend the assurances that he seeks with regard to the 2006 bid. Our bid is based on openness, honesty and merit. We expect all bids to be put forward on those same bases. We would not tolerate anyone putting his case forward on anything other than those bases.

With regard to the allegations and innuendo that I have been reading in relation to FIFA and President Sepp Blatter, we have no evidence. I would prefer to react when or if we have evidence. I can assure my hon. Friend that were evidence to be put before us, there would be an appropriate response from the Government.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth (East Surrey)

On the subject of accountability, will the Minister tell the House what consultation with the governing bodies took place prior to last week's announcement that team sport would be downgraded in schools?

Mr. Banks

Of course team sport will not be downgraded in schools. The hon. Gentleman should stop believing the stuff that he reads in newspapers. As he knows, there is a recommendation from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority with regard to key stage 4. The idea is that team sport will be compulsory from key stage 1 to key stage 3. At key stage 4, where there is a clear indication that team sport lacks popularity among many children, particularly young women—

Mr. John Bercow (Buckingham)

indicated dissent.

Mr. Banks

The hon. Gentleman shakes his head, but he is not a young woman, so he would not know that fact. [Interruption.] I hope the operation is entirely successful.

We want to make sure that the broadest choice of sport is given to youngsters. Let me make it clear that the Government, the Secretary of State and I are irrevocably committed to the promotion of competitive team sports in schools. If I thought that the Government were going to retreat from the promotion of competitive team sports, I would tender my resignation to the Prime Minister.

Mr. Ainsworth

The hon. Gentleman had better get on with it. He spins one thing to the teachers, and another to people in sport, but he failed to answer my question. I asked what consultation took place with the governing bodies. I can help him, as we have spoken to the governing bodies. The Football Association, the All England Netball Association, the Rugby Football Union and the England and Wales Cricket Board all say that the news came as a complete shock.

On the subject of reading newspapers, those bodies, like everyone else, had to find out the information through press reports of a leaked parliamentary answer in advance of that answer being given. Is that a responsible way for the Government to proceed? Before the Minister goes on to comment on the accountability of the sporting bodies, he might like to examine the Government's accountability in this regard.

Mr. Banks

The recommendation is from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and it is now out for consultation. For the first time, the Government have set an aspiration that all children should do two hours of sport every week. It is interesting that David Moorcroft, the chief executive of UK Athletics, said how much he welcomed that.

I have had discussions about the erroneous and misleading caricature of our policy in the press, and I have had personal discussions with the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Football Association. They know that we are totally committed to team sports. Nothing that the hon. Gentleman can say will stop me making that clear. There is no question of the Government doing anything other than encouraging competitive team sports in our schools and outside them.

Mr. John Maxton (Glasgow, Cathcart)

Is it not a strange anomaly that when the sports councils give lottery money to golf clubs, they insist that the clubs practise gender equality, yet the Royal and Ancient golf club, which controls all golf in this country and much golf throughout the world, discriminates against women in terms of its membership and in terms of entrance into its clubhouse in St. Andrews? What pressure will my hon. Friend apply to ensure that the club obeys the same rules as golf clubs in the rest of the country?

Mr. Banks

I have to be a little careful when I start treading into Scotland, as hon. Members know. We utterly condemn any discrimination by any governing bodies against women and ethnic minorities. The pressure that we can apply is to withhold funding from governing bodies that do not follow policies of equity. We were able to help to influence the progressive forces in the MCC to admit women to membership.

In the final analysis, policy is a matter for members of governing bodies, and I am pleased to say that we have a very good working relationship with most governing bodies. Where there are any clear examples or evidence of discriminatory practices by governing bodies, if they are in receipt of Government and Exchequer funding, they will find that withdrawn. However, I am pleased to say how encouraging the attitudes of governing bodies now are. They recognise the need for equity and full representation, and they know that the Government will support them in their advances.

Mr. Bercow

Why does not the Minister give up the unequal struggle, abandon his bluster and admit that there is no significant problem whatever of governing bodies not being accountable to sportsmen? The problem is that the Government are not accountable to the governing bodies or to those whose interests those bodies seek to promote. Given that, in the past week alone, the England and Wales Cricket Board, the National Playing Fields Association, Sir Bobby Charlton and Darren Gough have all publicly expressed their support for the continuation of compulsory team games, why cannot the Minister bring himself to admit that the decision to abolish that requirement post-14 is crass, insensitive and should be reversed?

Mr. Banks

Because that is not true—it is as simple and as straightforward as that. At key stage 4, young people aged from 14 to 16 will be given a wide range of sports that they can pursue, including competitive team sports. The hon. Gentleman continues to propagate the lies and misleading propaganda that were in the newspapers, which other people tend to follow, but he will find that the governing bodies and the people he has mentioned trust me far more than they trust him.