§ Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what administrative procedures are involved in the transfer of responsibility for chess from her Department to the Department of National Heritage;
(2) what is the chess budget in her Department;
(3) how many civil servants are responsible for chess in her Department.
§ Mr. BoswellMy right hon. Friend has no policy responsibility for chess. However the Department has for some years given grant to the British Chess Federation towards the cost of its activities, in acknowledgement of the game's perceived educational benefits. For the financial year 1995–96, the Department has offered the British Chess Federation grant of up to £48,500. An estimated 50 hours of official time per annum is spent on matters relating to the payment of grant to the British Chess Federation.