§ Mr. Colvinasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the Prime Minister's answer of 22 April, Official Report, c. 193, whether he is yet in a position to make a further announcement concerning the arrangements for children's play.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe Government have been concerned to expand and enhance the sport, recreation and leisure opportunities for the family, and for people of all ages, and has therefore substantially increased the funds available through the Sports Council and other programmes. For children and young people aged 5–16, play remains a vital leisure pastime: it is also necessary in their personal and social development.
76W
Financial year Fees and other income excluding grant‡ Grant-in-aid Total expenditure|| Staff in post at 1 April (excluding Board members)¶ (£) (£) (£) 1963–64* — 5,000 — — 1964–65 3,157 196,000 210,771 — 1965–66 92,783 495,600 457,474 77 1966–67 281,498 500,000 754,324 175 1967–68 210,802 500,000 770,324 215 1968–69 286,304 475,000 758,535 204 1969–70 292,886 450,000 740,003 191 1970–71 459,571 420,000 934,780 188 1971–72 433,986 450,000 884,468 166 1972–73 598,709 200,000 791,510 104 1973–74 740,359 199,000 875,455 137 1974–75 927,316 230,000 1,079,218 164 1975–76 1,409,003 275,000 1,626,273 215 1976–77 1,651,850 330,000 1,914,751 231 1977–78 1,634,120 360,000 1,933,539 218 1978–79 1,988,236 406,000 2,412,470 237 1979–80 2,639,798 479,000 3,117,802 251 1980–81 2,932,217 564,000 3,469,117 235 1981–82 † 1,679,884 † 195 1982–83 † 172,342 † 26 1983–84 — •250,000 — — Notes on table: * there are no figures for fee income, expenditure or staff numbers for 1963–64 because the Agency was registered as a company on 16 March 1964. † accounts for 1981–82 onwards are not yet available. ‡ in addition to the figures shown in this column, from 1969–70 to 1973–74 inclusive the Agency received a deficiency grant of about £4,000 a year from the Ministry of Finance, Northern Ireland, to support the establishment of an NBA oiffice in Belfast. • amount in printed Estimates for 1983–84 ║ the figures for expenditure include both current expenditure and the amount allocated each year as a contribution to fixed assets. In many areas, and for a variety of reasons, children and young people have few opportunities for safe, organised play outside school. Provision for organised play and recreation has been patchy, particularly in the inner cities. We must therefore encourage and promote the provision of more and better facilities and opportunities; we must also ensure better training and information and seek to draw in locally parents, the many authorities and agencies and organisations which are or could be involved.
The voluntary sector has always played a major role and will continue to do so. I have been approached by representatives of the independent voluntary agencies who are now engaged in forming the new organisation they believe is required to give a fresh impetus to the development of facilities and leaders. Over the next few weeks they will be establishing the body, its board and electing its chairman. The Government and the Sports Council have agreed in principle to give support. Discussions will continue and I will make a further announcement in due course.