§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what criteria were used in determining eligibility for Sports Action Zones; what was the timetable for bids for such zones; and what process was used to arrive at the final awards. [111030]
801W
§ Kate HoeySport Action Zones, the first 12 of which were announced on 17 January, are part of Sport England's Lottery Sports Fund strategy, which was published in May last year. There will be a total of up to 30 Zones designated over the next 10 years. The Zones are areas where current basic sports provision falls furthest below an acceptable benchmark standard and there is significant economic deprivation. In selecting the areas to be designated, Sport England took into account a number of indicators of deprivation. These included the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions 'Index of local conditions', areas which are subject to regeneration initiatives such Objective 1 status, the Single Regeneration Budget, Housing and Education Action Zones and areas such as former coalfields and rural communities which clearly have a deficiency of sports facilities. The designation process also involved discussions with local interests including local authorities, sporting and community groups. The process for designating further Action Zones is under consideration by Sport England.
Sport England will now be discussing with all the local interests, including local authorities, governing bodies, community and volunteer groups and educational bodies a detailed needs analysis for each Zone which will be followed by the production of an Action Plan setting out the agreed priorities for the area. The Plans will form the basis of bids to Sport England for Lottery funding for projects aimed at meeting those objectives. The delivery of the Sport Action Zones objectives will require very close co-operation between all the local interests, with the emphasis very much on listening to the views of local communities and responding to their needs.