§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants are available to local authorities to enable them to establish sports centres if they so wish; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. MoynihanThe Sports Council provides grants towards the provision of sports centres by local authorities; as does the Department under the urban programme. I am delighted that the number of sports halls736W in England has risen from 770 in 1981 to 1,117 now; participation in sport and recreation has risen from 17 million in 1977 to 23 million now.