§ 2.35 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 will make a progress statement on the applications received by the Advisory Committee concerned from governing bodies of sport asking for grant-aid for teams competing in overseas events; how many have been received and, of these, how many have been successful and how many rejected; as distinct from the Olympic and Commonwealth Games which are dealt with separately.]
THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH)My Lords, thirteen applications for assistance for teams competing in overseas events have been received by the Advisory Committee. All these applications are under examination by the Committee, none of them having been decided to date.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, in thanking the noble Earl for his Answer, may I ask whether he can please tell me whether the Committee have actually begun to consider these applications, or are they still pending?
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, I think that the Committee are considering these applications. Further information is, of course, required for many of them before a decision can be given, but I can assure the noble Lady that the applications are being dealt with as quickly as possible.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, could the noble Earl just reassure us on a further point? Is this delay in dealing with any of these thirteen applications going to have any unfortunate repercussions upon a team, in so far as the date of competition is concerned?
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, of course each application is completely different and the dates in question are all different, but I can assure the noble Lady that all these considerations are being taken into account.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I am sorry to be persistent, but is the noble Earl aware that, put very simply, what I am asking him is this: are any of these thirteen applicants likely to be unable to send a team to take part if a decision is not given in the immediate future?
THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am afraid that these applications are, so to speak, sub judice before the Committee and I cannot comment on any individual one.