HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 cc493-5W
Mr. Trickett

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what monitoring she conducts of the extent to which sports governing bodies let contracts in receipt of Sports Council grants to suppliers of goods and services in ways which are open and transparent and which comply with proper codes of accounting practice, with particular reference to the British Cycling Federation. [38695]

Mr. Sproat

Government support to individual governing bodies of sport is primarily channelled through the Sports Council, an independent body set up by royal charter. All sports governing bodies in receipt of Sports Council grants are required to have their annual accounts audited and to supply a copy of these audited accounts to the Sports Council. The Sports Council's liaison officers have regular informal meetings with officials of the governing bodies and have the right to attend meetings of relevant committees. This applies to the British Cycling Federation. The Comptroller and Auditor General may

Mr. Sproat

Lottery grants to the Jarrow constituency and South Tyneside district council are listed. It is not possible to generate figures for Tyne and Wear because it does not have precisely defined boundaries. To date, there have been 346 awards in the north-east region for a total of £91,646,291. I will write to the hon. Member with a full list of these awards.

conduct more detailed audits. The Sports Council also has the right to conduct more detailed audits and the council's management audit programme includes a review of the operations of a sample of governing bodies in receipt of Sports Council grants. The British Cycling Federation has a formal tendering process for contracts which is administered by the directors of the British Cycling Federation/British Cycling Federation Promotions Ltd. It is established custom and practice for members of the Executive to declare any conflict of interest.

Mr. Trickett

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what reports he has received from the auditors of the British Cycling Federation in relation to contractual links between the federation and(a) Impsport Ltd., (b) Fletcher Marketing and (c) Sports Ambassador Ltd. [38636]

Mr. Sproat

Government support to the individual governing bodies of sport is primarily channelled through the Sports Council, an independent body set up by royal charter. All sports governing bodies in receipt of Sports Council grants are required to have their annual accounts audited and to supply a copy of these audited accounts to the Sports Council. I understand from the Sports Council that no report has been received, nor has one been requested, from the auditors of the British Cycling Federation in relation to contractual links between the Federation and (a) Impsport Ltd. (b) Fletcher Marketing and (c) Sports Ambassador Ltd.

Mr. Trickett

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps she will take to protect public funds given to the British Cycling Federation by the Sports Council in respect of the legal proceedings between the British Cycling Federation and its former president. [39135]

Mr. Sproat

The Sports Council has advised the British Cycling Federation formally that the grant it receives cannot be used to pay any legal fees or costs associated with the legal proceedings between the British Cycling Federation and its former president. The Sports Council's liaison officers have regular informal meetings with officials of the governing bodies and have the right to attend meetings of relevant committees. The Sports Council also has the right to conduct detailed audits and review the operations of governing bodies in receipt of Sports Council grants. The Sports Council will continue to monitor the position closely to ensure that the British Cycling Federation honours the terms of its agreement with the council.