§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what level of direct financial support will be available to the British Deaf Sports Council and British Blind Sport in the coming financial year;
(2) if he will make a statement on Government aid for profoundly deaf people in sport;
(3) what action he will take to assist the British Deaf Sports Council with administrative costs associated with costs arising from participation in the world games for the deaf in Sofia, Bulgaria;
(4) what steps he will take to improve awareness of deaf persons' needs in sport.
§ Mr. BrookeIn 1993–94, the British Deaf Sports Council and British Blind Sport will each receive a grant of £30,000 from the Sports Council, channelled through the British Sports Association for the Disabled. The Sports Council also assists the British Paralympic Association (BPA) which has agreed to provide £70,000 towards the costs of the World Games for the Deaf and hopes to contribute more. My Department will be represented in Sofia and I am sure that the achievements of our deaf athletes will increase public awareness of this aspect of disabled sport.