HC Deb 18 October 1976 vol 917 cc314-6W
Mr. Goodhew

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the grant-aiding powers contained in Section 3 of the Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937 have been taken over by the Sports Council for aiding sport only; and, if so, if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to repeal the Act and amend the charter of the Sports Council to cover the aiding of appropriate educational activities included in the Act;

(2) what national voluntary organisations dealing with the training and supply of teachers have been grant aided by the Sports Council since 1972; for what purposes the grants were made; and what sums were involved in each case;

(3) whether the Sports Council has taken over, or is about to take over, any of the grant-aiding powers contained in Section 3 of the Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937;

(4) upon whose instructions and for what reasons the grant-aiding powers contained in Section 3 of the Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937 have been discontinued.

Mr. Denis Howell

The grant-aiding powers in Section 3 of the Physical Training and Recreation Act 1937 have not been used since the Sports Council was established as an independent body in 1972. The council has wide powers to grant aid under its own charter, and to carry on any activity for the benefit of sport and physical recreation.

Grants to voluntary establishments responsible for the training of teachers, and to national voluntary organisations which undertake the training of youth leaders and community centre wardens are made by the Department of Education and Science under the 1944 Education Act.

No national voluntary organisations dealing with the training and supply of teachers have been grant aided by the Sports Council since 1972, but national voluntary organisations for sport and recreation which have received grant aid from the Sports Council for courses for sports coaching may have included teachers among their members. Details of the extent to which such grants may have benefited teachers are not available. There is no intention at present to repeal Section 3 of the 1937 Act.