§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps she is taking to encourage more women to take part in sport; and what funding is available to encourage women's participation in sport at every level. [29057]
§ Mr. SproatThe Government are keen to improve opportunities for women and girls to participate in sport at all levels. These objectives are pursued through sponsorship of the Sports Council, which received £49.2 million grant in aid in 1995–96. In the same year, the Sports Council awarded £617,000 to women's governing bodies of sport; almost £2 million was provided at a national and regional level for projects exclusively or primarily concerned with the development of sport for girls and women; and a further £7.1 million was provided at a national and regional level for projects which had specific implications for women. Women's sport would also have benefitted from the Sports Council's other programmes.
In its first year of operation, the national lottery provided a huge injection of funds for capital projects aimed at increasing participation and enhancing performance. The changes to the directions that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently made will enable the Sports Council to give revenue awards to talented sportswomen.