§ Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the consultation paper on the British Academy for Sport will be published. [4532]
§ Mr. SproatThe Great Britain Sports Council today published the consultation paper on the British Academy for Sport. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House. Copies of the consultation paper are available from the Sports Council at 16 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H OQP. The purpose of the consultation paper is to promote debate about the details of the structure, siting, management and activities of the academy. The closing date for responses is 31 January 1996. Following this date, the Government wish to encourage application by different groups of sporting, commercial and other public and private interests—possibly in the form of a charitable trust to establish and run the academy. Up to £100 million from the national lottery could be available for capital costs of the academy and, if appropriate, an endowment to provide future revenue costs.
154WThe decision in principle to establish a British Academy for Sport was set out in the policy document, "Raising the Game", published on the 14 July 1995. The academy forms one part of an overall strategy for sport in the United Kingdom, set out in the policy document, for which the other two parts are the restoration of sport in school, with strong emphasis on competitive team games, and the development and strengthening of local sports clubs and their links with local schools.