HL Deb 24 October 1973 vol 345 cc737-8WA
LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In view of the importance of leisure in life to-day, what further steps are being taken to ensure that local resources are utilised to the full.

THE PAYMASTER GENERAL (VISCOUNT ECCLES)

Much is already being done in the leisure field by Government Departments, local authorities, the Arts and Sports Councils and the Countryside Commission, to name only the most important of those concerned. However we believe that one way to further progress may be in locally led campaigns to bring together and develop a full range of leisure resources—cultural, recreational and sporting. My right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I have therefore invited two local authorities in England to join with the Regional Arts Associations and the Regional Sports Councils in carrying out two-year experiments along these lines. The aim will be to bring in as many as possible of the local organisations and interests concerned—commercial and industrial as well as public and voluntary. The selected towns are Stoke-on-Trent and Sunderland. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right honourable and learned friend the Secretary of State for Wales invited the appropriate bodies to carry out similar experiments within the West Dunbartonshire area of Scotland and the Flintshire area of Wales. We hope that with the co-operation of all concerned action will start shortly. The results will be written up in a report for general publication.