HC Deb 07 December 1990 vol 182 cc211-2W
Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he will take to implement the recommendations of the National Curriculum Council regarding the position of physical education and sport in the national curriculum.

Mr. Eggar

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the National Curriculum Council's advice on the curriculum for 14 to 16-year-old pupils. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to him on 20 November 1990 at column65.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the Government's total expenditure on sport for each of the last five years and as a total over the same period; and what measures he will take to increase Government assistance to sport over the next years.

Mr. Atkins

In England central Government's total expenditure or planned provision on sport through grant in aid to the Sports Council and the Department of the Environment's urban programme for the years 1985–86 to 1993–94 is:

Sports Council Grant Urban Programme
1985–86 outturn 30.1 24.7
1986–87 outturn 37.4 21.3
1987–88 outturn 37.1 25.2
1988–89 outturn 39.0 17.8
1989–90 outturn 41.9 15.5
1990–91 estimated outturn 43.7 15.7
1991–92 plans 46.7 15.9
1992–93 plans 47.4 16.0
1993–94 plans 48.8 16.1

The Government also fund sport indirectly through other inner-city programmes and agencies and provide financial support for local authorities' revenue expenditure on sport through unhypothecated revenue support grant. In the light of recent departmental changes, I am considering what further steps may be taken to improve sport in schools.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will re-examine the allocation of teachers' hours in relation to extra-curricular activities in sport and recreation.

Mr. Eggar

The allocation of teachers' directed time is a matter for head teachers to decide.

Mr. Pendry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will initiate a full assessment of the needs of physical education and training colleges, with particular reference to teacher training in team sports and other sporting skills.

Mr. Fallon

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans to initiate such an assessment. As far as the content of initial teacher training is concerned, the Government's revised criteria for the approval of courses, announced in DES circular 24/89, require training institutions to prepare students to teach PE according to the requirements of the national curriculum.