HC Deb 14 May 1992 vol 207 c173W
Mr. Burns

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the proposed restructuring of the Sports Council to form a United Kingdom sports commission and sports council for England, and on the chairmanships of these bodies.

Mr. Mellor

In the policy statement "Sport and Active Recreation", published on 19 December 1991, the Government announced their intention to replace the Sports Council of Great Britain with a United Kingdom sports commission and a sports council for England, subject to the approval, by the Queen in Council, of the royal charters for the two new bodies.

Following the transfer of responsibility for sport and recreation to the Department of National Heritage, the Government remain fully committed to this restructuring. I intend to appoint Peter Yarranton as chairman of the United Kingdom sports commission, and Ian Beer as chairman of the sports council for England. Mr. Yarranton is presently chairman of the Sports Council of Great Britain and will continue in that capacity until the transition to the new arrangements has been effected.