§ 3.7 p.m.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have now reached a decision concerning the establishment of a Sports Development Council.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have this matter under consideration, and I hope it will be possible to make a statement shortly.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, while I realise that it is not the fault of the noble Earl, I wonder 1004 whether he appreciates that that Answer is completely unsatisfactory. Is he aware that it is exactly the same as I received from him more than seven weeks ago, on May 9? The matter was then "under consideration". Can the noble Earl suggest to the House how we could imbue some slight sense of urgency into the Treasury so that we might receive a more definite reply?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I think perhaps I could go a stage further than I went a month ago and inform the noble Lady that the matter is under active consideration. But, more seriously, I hope that I shall be able to give not only the noble Baroness but all noble Lords some further news about this at any rate before the Summer Recess.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, while being hopeful that that will be the case, may I also ask the noble Earl whether he remembers that some seven weeks ago I asked him whether he would ask his right honourable friend to consider helping the financing of teams in their travelling for international amateur events in Europe? And does he further remember that he was good enough to say that he would bring this matter to the attention of his right honourable friend? Has he been more successful in getting any further in that matter, or are we still held up there also?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I do, of course, remember the exchange with the noble Lady on that; and she will also remember that when I said I would bring this matter to the attention of my right honourable friend, I made it quite clear that that was subject to the qualification which I had given in answer to her original Question, which was to the effect that it was extremely difficult to decide on particular issues like the one she has raised before deciding the general issue; and that remains the position to-day.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, in view of the contribution that Welsh Rugby players are now making to the British Isles team in South Africa, would the noble Earl, in the composition of this Council, have regard to the claims of the Welsh Rugby Union and the Welsh National Council of Y.M.C.A.s, and other sporting organisations in Wales?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I am sure that all matters relating to Wales will be very closely borne in mind, as indeed they were in the original Wolfenden Report.
§ LORD MORRISON OF LAMBETHMy Lords, without prejudice to the right of my noble friend Lady Burton of Coventry to put down another Question, would the noble Earl intimate that he will seek to give my noble friend an indication as to when he is ready to answer the Question definitely, which he has not been in a position to do to-day?
§ LORD WISEMy Lords, before we part from that particular subject, may I ask the noble Earl if he can give us any information whether consideration will be given to the needs of school athletes and teenage athletes and their associations?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I think I would need notice of that specific question, but that is, of course, one of the matters which is being considered in the general context of the Wolfenden Committee's Report.