§ Lord Pendryasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in allocating money to grassroots and elite sports, they will take account of the wider intangible benefits of sporting success, including its effect on national pride, community cohesion and public health. [HL1520]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)The Government acknowledge the contribution that sport makes in tackling health, social exclusion and building community cohesion.
Sport England's recent announcement of its four-year funding totalling £315 million for 32 priority and development sports in England has been allocated against a number of criteria including consideration of these issues.
84WAThis investment spans grassroots to international elite performance and is designed to make England active: helping people to start and stay in sport, providing the solutions to increase and widen the base of participation for everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin or disability; developing a dynamic network of clubs, coaches, and volunteers: to create a sustainable infrastructure for retaining people in sport.