§ Mr. van Straubenzeeasked the Minister of Education if a decision has been reached upon the problem of helping individual governing bodies and organisations concerned with competition in amateur international sport abroad.
§ Mr. ChatawayIt has been decided that in suitable cases the Government will give financial support to British amateur teams to enable them to take part in international sporting events abroad. A small Committee will be set up, under the chairmanship of the Lord President's principal adviser on sport to consider applications which will have to 13W be sponsored by national amateur sporting organisations, and to make recommendations. The Committee will consist of officials and representatives of the Central Council of Physical Recreation and the British Olympic Association, and, in appropriate cases, the Scottish Council of Physical Recreation will be invited. The question of support for the British teams going to the Olympic or Commonwealth Games will be dealt with separately, in the light of the Government's general policy as represented by the establishment of the new Committee. I would stress that the Government's aim is to supplement and encourage the voluntary contributions which have made possible British sporting achievements abroad, and not to replace them. The popular appeal of the sport in question and the ability of the team to attract substantial support from other sources will be taken into account in assessing applications.
No specific annual total for the scheme has been fixed. Advice has been taken on the sum likely to be needed, and this will be taken into account when the Estimates for 1964–65 are prepared. Any expenditure required in the current year will be met by advances from the Civil Contingencies Fund and Parliament will be asked to vote the necessary funds by Supplementary Estimate in due course.