§ Charlotte AtkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding the Government gave to promoting and running chess for(a) young people and (b) adults in each of the last five years. [67058]
§ Mr. Banks[holding answer 26 January 1999]: Since my Department took over responsibility for funding chess in 1996–97, the Government has invested £49,000 each year to help the British Chess Federation (BCF) promote the development of Chess. Expenditure by the BCF on junior chess and other initiatives, from the funding provided by my Department, is as follows:
£ 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Junior chess development 14,542 16,180 13,870 Other initiatives 34,458 32,820 35,130 An analysis for earlier years is not available. Whilst I am pleased that funding from my Department has been able to support initiatives specifically related to junior chess development, it has also been able to contribute to and benefit all age groups.