Mr. Michael J. FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the proportion of girls who give up sport upon leaving school. [63432]
§ Mr. BanksThis Department has not made any estimate of the proportion of girls who have given up sport upon leaving school.
The 1994 Young People and Sport Survey, which focused on ages 6–16 and was carried out by the then GB Sports Council, showed that, at age 16, the participation rate for girls in sport was 77 per cent. The 1996 General Household Survey, which focused on age 16 and over, showed that the participation rate in the age group 16–19 was 79 per cent. The same surveys show that the participation rates were 81 per cent. at ages 14–15, but fell to 70 per cent. at ages 25–29. However, direct comparisons are not appropriate because of the different nature of the two surveys.
The English Sports Council (ESC) will be undertaking its next Young People and Sport Survey next year. The survey is likely to focus on the participation rates of girls in sport in more detail.
Mr. Michael J. FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what initiatives are planned by his Department to encourage more girls to become involved in sport. [63433]
§ Mr. BanksI have made clear my determination to encourage more women and girls into sport at all levels and am working closely with my Ministerial colleagues and others to ensure this.
The English Sports Council (ESC), through which this Department's funding for sport is channelled, had a range of activities designed to encourage and promote women and girls in sport. Initiatives aimed specifically at young people come under the umbrella of the National Junior Sports Programme which brings together education sectors and local communities to develop interest in sport at an early age and help young people develop basic sports skills. Specific initiatives include:
Top Play: an initiative run in conjunction with the Youth Sport Trust, which teaches core sporting skills to 4–9 year olds;26WTop Sport: also run in conjunction with the Youth Sport Trust, which introduces 7 –11 year olds to sports and games;Coaching for Teachers: run in conjunction with the National Coaching Foundation, which offers tailored sports training for teachers; andSportsmark and Sportsmark Gold: which awards secondary and special schools for their work on sport in the curriculum.In addition, the ESC is piloting an initiative, 'Girl Sport', aimed specifically at promoting the benefits of sport for girls and encouraging more girls to participate in sport. Also, the ESC is aiming, next Spring, to publish a National Action Plan for Women which will encourage organisations to sign up to specific targets to increase the number of girls involved in sport by 2001, including:
- a 20 per cent. increase in the number of girls who are members of sports clubs;
- a 20 per cent. increase in the number of secondary school age girls who take part in at least 3 sports on a regular basis; and
- a 20 per cent. increase in the number of girls who participate in sport in their leisure time.
A major force for helping more women and girls into sport is coming through the National Lottery. Organisations are required to include ways of encouraging the participation of women and girls when applying for monies from the Lottery Sports Fund. This is now helping to increase participation levels in a range of sports.