Sport and Recreation (Hansard, 9 March 1977)

§ Mr. Roy Hughes
has asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations his Department has undertaken concerning recommendations contained in the White Paper "Sport and 583W Recreation" of August 1975; what conclusions were reached; and what action is now proposed.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
There are now regular consultations at national and regional level among all those concerned in the formulation and implementation of recreational policies. My Department has consulted widely about the proposals in the White Paper for regional councils for sport and recreation and for a study of recreation management training. The new regional councils have now been set up, and the committee to study recreation management training will start work shortly.

§ Mr. Roy Hughes
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what aspects

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON SPORT AND RECREATION SUMMARY OF PROGRESS: MARCH 1977

Paragraph Proposal Action

15 Collection of statistics on expenditure on sport and recreation by local authorities and government agencies. Local authority capital and current expenditure on sport and recreation is now shown in the annual returns made to the Department.

The Department is discussing with the relevant government agencies ways of compiling a compatible record of their expenditure on sport and recreation.

21 Ad hoc joint working group to work out agreed definition of Sports Council and CCPR roles and responsibilities. The group met in June 1976 and agreed in principle the respective roles of the two bodies.

22 Attendance at Sports Council meetings by the Minister of State. The Minister has received and accepted invitations from the Chairman of the Sports Council to attend a number of Council meetings.

22 Increase in Sports Council membership. The Royal Charter has been amended to provide for 5 additional members.

33 Meetings with chairmen and directors of the relevant government agencies. The Minister of State chairs regular meetings which are also attended by representatives of the local authority associations.

35 6-monthly regional liaison meetings of government agencies and water authorities. The Department's Regional Directors are convening and chairing these meetings.

36–37 Regional Councils for Sport and Recreation. The new councils are now established in all regions.

39 Recreation Management Training The Chairman has been appointed and the committee to study recreation management training will start work shortly.

45 Loss of recreational land The new method for collecting land use change data should in time provide an improved monitoring system because the annual returns will show in local authority areas the total gains and losses of land whose principal use is for recreation and leisure.

50 Countryside policies The Government's conclusions on the recommendations of the National Parks Policies Review Committee were announced on 12th January 1976 (DOE Circular 4/76). The review of Government policies for the countryside is in progress. An initial paper was published in August 1976 and others are in preparation.

53 Footpaths and bridleways The Countryside Commission has published its policy statement "Footpaths for Recreation". It is examining the arrangements for modifying local networks of footpaths and bridleways. It is hoped that the form of any necessary long term administrative or legislative changes will emerge from this.

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of the recommendations concerning matters for which his Department is responsible contained in the White Paper "Sport and Recreation" of August 1975, have yet to be implemented; what action he now proposes; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
The White Paper on Sport and Recreation published in August 1975 contained a programme of action which covered arrangements for organisation and co-ordination, the best use of existing resources and the allocation of priorities. Those parts of the programme which could be implemented by specific actions are now complete, and those which require continuing action are in operation. The table below shows the progress which has been made.
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Paragraph Proposal Action

56 Areas of special need The Sports Council is now grant-aiding suitable projects in these areas.

62 Gifted sportsmen and sportswomen The Sports Aid Foundation has been established as an autonomous body. The working party is continuing to develop a strategy for a network of Centres of Excellence and a pilot scheme is already under way at Leeds.

§ Mr. Roy Hughes
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken by his Department to secure the full implementation of the proposals contained in the White Paper "Sport and Recreation" of August 1975, intended to help combat delinquency amongst young people and violence at sporting events.

§ Mr. Denis Howell
The White Paper stated that by reducing boredom and urban frustration participation in active recreation helps to reduce hooliganism and delinquency amongst young people. My Department makes an annual grant in aid to the Sports Council to foster and develop sport and physical recreation in Great Britain. The Council is responsible for the detailed allocation of the funds provided. It now gives capital grant aid to recreational projects in areas of special need, and grants totalling over £680,000 have been offerred to date for projects of this sort. As regards the problem of crowd behaviour at football matches, I chair a working party which keeps the situation under continuing review and considers what appropriate action can be taken to curb and control hooliganism.

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER ON SPORT AND RECREATION SUMMARY OF PROGRESS: MARCH 1977
Paragraph	Proposal	Action
15	Collection of statistics on expenditure on sport and recreation by local authorities and government agencies.	Local authority capital and current expenditure on sport and recreation is now shown in the annual returns made to the Department.
		The Department is discussing with the relevant government agencies ways of compiling a compatible record of their expenditure on sport and recreation.
21	Ad hoc joint working group to work out agreed definition of Sports Council and CCPR roles and responsibilities.	The group met in June 1976 and agreed in principle the respective roles of the two bodies.
22	Attendance at Sports Council meetings by the Minister of State.	The Minister has received and accepted invitations from the Chairman of the Sports Council to attend a number of Council meetings.
22	Increase in Sports Council membership.	The Royal Charter has been amended to provide for 5 additional members.
33	Meetings with chairmen and directors of the relevant government agencies.	The Minister of State chairs regular meetings which are also attended by representatives of the local authority associations.
35	6-monthly regional liaison meetings of government agencies and water authorities.	The Department's Regional Directors are convening and chairing these meetings.
36–37	Regional Councils for Sport and Recreation.	The new councils are now established in all regions.
39	Recreation Management Training	The Chairman has been appointed and the committee to study recreation management training will start work shortly.
45	Loss of recreational land	The new method for collecting land use change data should in time provide an improved monitoring system because the annual returns will show in local authority areas the total gains and losses of land whose principal use is for recreation and leisure.
50	Countryside policies	The Government's conclusions on the recommendations of the National Parks Policies Review Committee were announced on 12th January 1976 (DOE Circular 4/76). The review of Government policies for the countryside is in progress. An initial paper was published in August 1976 and others are in preparation.
53	Footpaths and bridleways	The Countryside Commission has published its policy statement "Footpaths for Recreation". It is examining the arrangements for modifying local networks of footpaths and bridleways. It is hoped that the form of any necessary long term administrative or legislative changes will emerge from this.