§ Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the functions of his Department in respect of the provision of sport and recreation for youth.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI exercise on behalf of my right hon. Friend his powers in relation to the Sports Council, the Countryside Commission, the British Waterways Board, the regional water authorities and national park committees and boards—all of which provide or assist the provision of facilities for sport and recreation. In addition, I take the lead on the co-ordination of policies and promotion of research in this field in England; and co-operate with Scottish and Welsh Ministers on broader aspects of policy for Great Britain.
My responsibilities for sport and recreation cover all age groups, but exclude, of course, activities within schools. The importance which the Government attach to attracting and retaining the interest of young people in sport and physical recreation was emphasised in the White Paper published last year (Cmnd. 6200).
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total of local government current and capital expenditure on sport in the financial year 1976–77.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI do not have sufficient information to make reliable estimates.
§ Mr. Monroasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the committees, working parties and inquiries into aspects of sport established 611W by him since March 1974, naming the chairman in each case.
§ Mr. Denis HowellSince March 1974 I have set up the following working parties: Working Party on Sport and Outdoor Recreation, Working Party on Football Crowd Behaviour, Working Party on Centres of Excellence. All were under my chairmanship.
The Working Party on Sport and Outdoor Recreation, which undertook a comprehensive review of relationships in sport, completed its work in 1974. The other two working parties are still in existence.