§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the categories of Government funding for which private golf clubs are eligible.
§ Mr. AtkinsGovernment funding for golf is channeled through the Sports Council. Golf clubs with open memberships are eligible for Sports Council regional grants, usually capital grants, towards facilities or a grant towards promotional development of the sport, but their activities must be deemed a priority in terms of the Sports Council's regional targets. Private golf clubs with closed memberships are not eligible for Sports Council funding.
§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy to ascertain whether private golf clubs in receipt of Government grants deny membership to women.
§ Mr. AtkinsSports Council grant conditions stipulate open membership: no one will be denied access to use a facility on grounds of race, creed, colour, sex, occupation, religious or political persuasion. Any golf club applying for funding would have its constitution scrutinised before any grant was made in order to ensure it met these conditions.
§ Ms. RichardsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list each Government grant to private golf clubs for the past five years.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe information requested is not held centrally.