§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the contribution of sport to inner-city life. [34477]
§ Mr. SproatSport has an important role to play in improving the quality of life for people living in inner-city areas.
In July 1995, the Government published the sports policy statement "Sport: Raising the Game", which detailed plans for improving the opportunities for young people everywhere to take part in sport. A follow-up statement is to be published this summer detailing the action that has been taken over the past 12 months.
In addition, the Sports Council, as the statutory distributor in England of national lottery funds for sport, has established a priority funding initiative aimed at attracting more applications from areas of sporting and social deprivation. Up to 90 per cent. lottery funding is now available for projects from identified urban areas of sporting deprivation. The council will also provide up to 80 per cent. of the capital cost for dual use projects that link schools with their communities and local clubs.