§ Lord Smith of Leighasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of the reports of increasing obesity particularly among young people, they will provide additional funding to community and voluntary sports organisations to enable them to 112WA provide more opportunities for activity to help achieve the Government's objectives of improving health. [HL240]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe cross-departmental activity co-ordination team will produce a national physical activity strategy next year. The strategy will address the issue of support for community and voluntary sports organisations.
The Government have already put measures in place to support community and voluntary sport. Community sports clubs in 16 sports will receive £60 million for capital facilities works from 2003–04 to 2005–06 under the community club development programme. Such clubs which are registered as community amateur sports clubs will, with clubs so registered in other sports, also receive 80 per cent mandatory rate relief from April 2004. Community sports facilities which are not based at amateur clubs will benefit from a £108 million investment of lottery funds under the New Opportunities Fund and Sport England is Active England programme.