§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the central Government expenditure on sport in the United Kingdom in each of the past years.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe information is as follows:
Great Britain (in addition to the relevant element in rate support grants to Local Authorities) Northern Ireland £m. £m. 1964–65. 0.91 0.13 1965–66 1.34 0.15 1966–67 1.53 0.21 1967–68 1.90 0.36 1968–69 2.34 0.46 1969–70 2.54 0.54 1970–71 3.02 0.46 1971–72 3.73 0.47 1972–73 4.617 0.48 1973–74* 6.44 1.53 * Estimates.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure on sport by local authorities in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsI am sending the hon. Member such information as is available.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy with regard to the future level of central Government expenditure on sport in the 267W United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe Government will continue to support the sports councils in their task of fostering the knowledge and practice of sport and physical recreation and the provision of facilities. The amounts that can be made available for the purpose must depend on economic circumstances and on the claims of other services, but I recognise the strength of the case for a rising level of support.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amount of money allocated to the three sports councils by Her Majesty's Government to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe three sports councils assumed executive responsibility on 1st April 1972. Grants-in-aid to the three councils for 1972–73 totalled £4.52 million; the corresponding estimates for 1973–74 total £6.44 million.
In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland spent £97,500 last year on commitments to sports bodies which were undertaken before the Scottish Sports Council was established, and expects to spend £30,000 for that purpose this year. In England and Wales, outstanding departmental commitments were taken over by the Sports Council.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amount of money allocated by Her Majesty's Government to national voluntary organisations connected with the general development of sport in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThe information is as follows:
£ million 1968–69 0.90 1969–70 0.98 1970–71 1.27 1971–72 1.47 1972–73 (Northern Ireland only) (0.02) Since 1st April 1972 grants to sport in England, Scotland and Wales have been a responsibility of the three sports councils.
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§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amounts of money allocated to sport by countries in the EEC, from international sources available to him, in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThis information is not comprehensively available in any meaningful form.