§ Mr. HoyleTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what(a) financial and (b) other assistance his Department is providing to the Rugby League World Cup. [83077]
§ Mr. Banks[holding answer 4 May 1999]Firstly, I congratulate the Rugby Football League (RFL) on their successful bid for this major international sporting event and look forward to a world-beating competition next year.
394W
Year/budget Spending (£ million) Allocation between totals in Table Al 1997–98 Welfare to Work 143 own line in table 1998–99 Welfare to Work 717 own line in table 1999–200 Welfare to Work 1,492 own line in table Invest to Save Budget 53 own line in table; allocations to departments set out in table 1.8 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 1999–2000 (Cm 4201) Capital Modernisation Fund 250 own line in table; allocations to date to departments set out in table 1.9 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 1999–2000 (Cm 4201) The RFL have been in close contact with UK Sport both before and after bidding for this event and are currently drawing up a business plan which will enable UK Sport to make a full assessment of their financial requirements. I offered my support as venue sponsor for staging the draw for this prestigious event, which took place on 26 April, and I would welcome the opportunity to become involved in profile raising events, in co-ordination with the RFL's strategy for promoting the World Cup.