Playing of Football by Women

HL Deb 11 January 2000 vol 608 cc94-5WA

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they have taken in 1999 to promote the playing of football by women. [HL374]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The Government fully support initiatives that increase participation in the women's game, and Sport England has made women's sport, and women's football in particular, a priority in grant allocation for community capital projects, its small grants programme and the Active Sports Programme. Furthermore, funding has been made available for the BAA Millennium Youth Games, which includes women's football. The Sport England funding is a combination of lottery and Exchequer funding. Ultimately, however, overall responsibility for the development of the women's game in England falls to the Football Association.