§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his Department's policy in relation to the development of sports for disabled people. [9214]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonThe Government are committed to the development of sporting opportunities for disabled people and significant progress has been made in this area in recent years through the Scottish Sports Council. In December 1994 the council appointed a co-ordinator of sport for people with a disability within the framework of the successful team sport Scotland initiative. This appointment came in the wake of the launch of the national ready, willing and able scheme aimed at improving the opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport. Ready, willing and able is a partnership between the Scottish Sports Council, the Scottish Sports Association for People with Disabilities and the Royal Mail, whose sponsorship of the programme has been matched through the sportsmatch scheme.