§ 2.36 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, without creating a precedent, in view of the urgency of reaching an immediate decision, they would be prepared to make a financial contribution towards the expenses of British umpires honoured by international selection to officiate at the Olympic Games in Tokyo this year where the organisations concerned have made every possible financial contribution themselves.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AND SCIENCE (THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH)My Lords, I regret that the answer must be, No. Since the noble Lady first raised this question I have re-examined the matter. Her Majesty's Government consider that the grant they have made for the Olympic Games must be the full extent of their commitment. The cost of sending umpires to officiate at Olympic Games is only a part of the expenditure to which governing bodies of sport have to contribute. They are also called upon to pay a substantial sum towards the cost of sending competitors over and above what is met from British Olympic Association funds. Her Majesty's Government can see no special feature about the cost of umpires which would justify singling them out for special treatment. Whether it is possible to do something without creating a precedent is arguable, but as regards urgency I should point out that the view of Her Majesty's Government on this question of umpires was made known 884 to the governing bodies of sport on March 6, 1964, and I believe the attitude of the British Olympic Association was known to governing bodies before that.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, without wishing to be rude, may I ask whether the noble Earl is aware that that Answer really seems hardly worth waiting a fortnight for? Is he not, furthermore, aware that if officials are honoured by selection to officiate at the Olympic Games, and if the organising bodies responsible have made every effort to collect money, it would have been appreciated if the Government had been able to help?
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHI recognise, my Lords, that it is certainly a compliment that four British umpires should have been selected in this case, and in regard to hockey. But I do not think that anything further can be done. As regards travelling expenses of the umpires, this cannot be considered in isolation, as I think I have already implied in my first reply. Overall, Her Majesty's Government are making quite a sizeable contribution towards Olympic expenditure.
§ VISCOUNT ADDISONMy Lords, might I ask the noble Earl whether it is possible that any individual case might be given special consideration on its own merit?
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, this overall sum has been granted, and I do not think that on this occasion any special cases can be taken into account.
LORD FARINGDONMy Lords, I wonder if Her Majesty's Government have considered whether it might be possible to allow private expenditure on the part of officials at Games to be eligible for rebate of income tax.
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am afraid that that is a much wider question. I should prefer that the noble Lord gave notice of that.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that I had hoped that, as a farewell gift of office, this Government might have done something more for sport just prior to the Games?