§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on how the Government's objectives to eliminate social exclusion in sport are being realised. [63426]
§ Mr. Banks[holding answer 14 December 1998]: This Government are committed to eliminating the barriers which prevent people from participating in sport. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to participate in and enjoy sport, regardless of class, gender, ethnic background, age or ability.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced on 14 December that as part of the Departmental Spending Review outcome sport will receive increased Government funding of almost £8 million over the next 3 years, some £2 million more than the £6 million already announced in July. The extra funding will not only help the UK Sports Council with the lead role we all want to see it play in UK sport, but will contribute to the existing range of provisions that the English Sports Council (ESC) makes in the field of social inclusion.
The National Lottery is also making a major impact in addressing the needs of communities up and down the country, both in terms of sport and the other good causes. The Lottery Sports Fund has now provided grants totalling £900 million to over 4,000 capital projects. 29W Sports projects in economically deprived regions can apply for additional Lottery support under the ESC's 'Priority Areas Initiative'. The recent reforms to the National Lottery will help to encourage distributors to consider how their strategies for the lottery will contribute to better access, neighbourhood regeneration, and the reduction of economic and social deprivation.
We are working towards the goal of social inclusion in a variety of other ways. I am the 'lead' Minister for a Policy Action Team which has been set up to examine best practice in the use of arts and sports projects in deprived areas. The Team draws together officials from a number of government departments with practitioners in the field of community sports provision, and will report in May 1999. My Department is also developing a new strategy for sport, which will set out some clear principles
£ Arts Council Chair 8,751.99 Arts Council Members 18,346.69 BBC Governors 40,486.98 DCMS 2 posts 4,701.00 English Sports Council Chair and Members 12,474.00 General broadcasting covering: 23,372.29 BSC Chair and Members ITC Deputy Chair Radio Authority Members National Lottery Commission Chief Executive and Commissioners 19,387.50 National Lottery Charities Board Chair 17,945.80 National Heritage Memorial Fund Chair 5,883.28 New Opportunities Fund Chair and Members 35,490.88 National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts Chief Executive 14,057.21 Chair and Members 23,536.00 S4C Chair and Members 4,712.00 UK Sports Council Members 28,972.29 Recouped from Welsh Office -4,801.00 Recouped from Scottish Office -7,039.00 Recouped from Northern Ireland Office -3,132.00 No expenditure has been made on television or radio advertising or direct mail.