§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the total income, tax revenues and jobs resulting from country. sporting activities.
§ Mr. MacleanI am aware of the recent report by Cobham Resource Consultants, produced on behalf of the standing conference on countryside sports, entitled "Countryside Sports—Their Economic and Conservation Significance." This report demonstrates the significance of country sports to the rural economy and we have noted its conclusions with interest.
The report estimates that total direct expenditure by organisers of and participants in country sports in Great Britain, amounted to some £1.4 billion in 1991, and provided for direct employment equivalent to 65,000 full-time jobs and indirect employment equivalent to 60,000 full-time jobs.