HC Deb 19 May 2004 vol 421 cc1068-9W
Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has had with representatives of the private sector on the contribution it can make to investing in local authority leisure facilities. [174055]

Mr. Caborn

The Department continues to explore ways to increase investment in our sports facilities working with partners in the voluntary, public and private sectors.

One of the key routes for DCMS to invest in the delivery of local authority leisure facilities is through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). This is one of a range of Government policies designed to increase private sector involvement in the provision of public services. DCMS is currently supporting 21 local authority PFI projects nationwide, 12 of which include the provision of new or refurbished sports and leisure facilities.

DCMS has participated in various cross-government initiatives aimed at informing both the public and private sector about the PFI process. However, DCMS does not directly enter into discussions with the private sector on individual PFI projects since it is a matter for local authorities to negotiate the specific terms by which they might contribute to the provision of their leisure facilities.

Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's assessment is of the impact of trusts on provision of local authority leisure facilities; and if she will make a statement. [174058]

Mr. Caborn

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not made a formal assessment of the impact of trusts on the provision of local authority leisure facilities. The Department is, however, aware that there are a significant number of trusts operating sports and leisure facilities in partnership with local authorities and will monitor their development.

Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is on ensuring that operators of public sector leisure facilities which have been contracted out invest in the long-term future of the facility. [174059]

Mr. Caborn

Whilst the provision of public leisure facilities is not a statutory duty, local authorities do have a duty to ensure that public services are responsive to the needs of their citizens, efficient and of high quality. Under the Local Government Acts (1999 and 2000) all services purchased or provided by local authorities are subject to the duty of best value which requires them to improve services year on year. Depending on the length of the contract, this would include long-term investments.

Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what standards the Government set for the acceptable standard of sports and leisure facilities offered by a local authority. [174060]

Mr. Caborn

The provision of sports and leisure facilities is not a statutory duty for local authorities and therefore there are no mandatory standards. However, my Department and its non-departmental public bodies offer extensive and detailed advice on standards; for instance, Sport England offers guidance notes, technical advice and standards for the design and development of sports facilities and Quest, a national quality accreditation scheme for sports facilities and sports development. By December 2003, 430 sports and leisure facilities had achieved a pass or higher in the Quest facility management scheme. The Department is also working with Sport England and other partners to develop "Towards an Excellent Service", a performance management framework for sport.

Mr. Reed

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment her Department has made of the cost of bringing local authority leisure facilities up to what Sport England considers(a) a good and (b) an acceptable standard. [174061]

Mr. Caborn

The most comprehensive picture of the condition of the existing stock of public sector sports facilities available to the Department is Sport England's report "Condition and Refurbishment of Public Sector Sports Facilities", published January 2003. The report estimates that it would cost £550 million over five years to bring sports centres owned by local authorities in England up to a safe and acceptable standard. The capital cost of maintaining the stock thereafter is estimated at between £144 million and £151 million per annum. These costs are at mid-2002 prices and exclude VAT.