§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of revenue and capital expenditure on sport and recreation by local authorities in England and Wales for each year since 1974–75.
§ Mr. Denis HowellActual expenditure based on local authority returns is as follows:
Revenue expenditure Capital expenditure 1974–75 263,567,000 89,006,000 1975–76 354,759,000 93,282,000 1976–77 407,451,000 81,646,000 Revenue expenditure on public baths and laundries is included in the figure for 1974–75 but not for subsequent years. Figures for 1977–78 are not yet available.
§ Mr. Macfarlaneasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many members of each regional council for sport and recreation represent competitive sports and what percentage of the total each figure represents.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI would refer the hon. Member to our views on the composition of the councils as set out in DOE Circular 47/76. This suggested that at least a quarter of the membership should come from a group made up of representatives of indoor sports, outdoor sports, outdoor recreation, countryside recreation and landowning and farming interests: and that there should be a broad balance between the sports interests and the out-234W door recreation/conservation interests in the group. I believe that the councils' membership generally reflects this advice. In addition, I must emphasise that among the membership of groups representing other interests there are a number of people closely involved in competitive sport.