§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will encourage the(a) Football Association, (b) Football League, (c) television networks and (d) Football Trust to provide funds for schools without sports playing fields to obtain access to such fields for team sports. [108284]
§ Kate HoeyThe FA Premier League and the Nationwide Football League have signed the Central Council of Physical Recreation's Voluntary Code on Broadcasting, under which governing bodies commit themselves to investing at least 5 per cent, of broadcasting revenues in the grass roots development of their sports. The Premier League re-affirmed its commitment to the principles of the Code in January 1999 following the publication of the Football Task Force's report Investing in the Community. My officials are in discussion with the Football Trust and the sport's governing bodies about the distribution and use of that investment, a proportion of which may be allocated to the provision of playing areas for school team sports.