HC Deb 14 March 1996 vol 273 cc739-40W
Mr. John D. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what projects were jointly funded between the Northern Ireland Sports Council and the Sports Councils in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) the Irish Republic in 1995, and at what cost. [19866]

Mr. Ancram

The Sports Council for Northern Ireland is involved with the Scottish, Great Britain and Welsh Sports Councils in funding the following UK-wide initiatives, and contributes:

£
Drug testing 15,000
Coaching matters 11,000
Champion coaching 20,000

There are no projects funded with COSPOIR, the Republic of Ireland's Sports Council.

Mr. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many times the chairman of the Northern Ireland Sports Council met the chairmen of the Sports Councils in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) the Irish Republic in 1995. [19865]

Mr. Ancram

Meetings took place as follows:

  • Chairman of the Scottish Sports Council: 14 times
  • Chairman of the GB Sports Council: 17 times
  • Chairman of the Welsh Sports Council: 16 times
  • Chairman of COSPOIR: 3 times

Mr. Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the level of co-operation between the Northern Ireland Sports Council and the Sports Councils in(a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales and (d) the Irish Republic; and what plans there are to enhance co-operation and promote more jointly funded projects. [19867]

Mr. Ancram

The Sports Council for Northern Ireland co-operates with the other home country Sports Councils in UK-wide initiatives. These are taken forward through committee representation, strategic planning and funding, for example:

  • UK Facilities Design
  • UK Management Award
  • National Lottery
  • Coaching Matters
    • 740
  • Champion Coaching
  • Major Events Support Group
  • Drug Control Unit
  • SC Advisory Group Marital Arts
  • UK Research Consortium
  • Valuing Volunteers
  • Recognition Activities/Governing Bodies
  • Sports Aid Foundation
  • Mountain Leadership/Rescue
  • Running Sport (Education/Training
  • Youth Sport Trust
  • UK Co-ordinating Committee for People with Disabilities

The Northern Ireland Sports Council and the Sports Council in the Republic of Ireland, COSPOIR, have biannual information exchange meetings at members/officers level. These have resulted in formal and informal exchanges in areas such as:

  • Strategy for Development of Sport
  • Drug Testing
  • Education/Training
  • Research
  • Sport for all Leader Award
  • Mountain Leadership/Rescue
  • European Funding
  • Outdoor Centre Programmes

Enhanced co-operation with COSPOIR is being explored in

  1. (a) development and implementation of strategies, particularly in relation to the 35 all-Ireland governing bodies of sport;
  2. (b) consideration of an all-Ireland sport for all leader award; and
  3. (c) development of education resource material.

Jointly funded projects in 1995–96 are:

  • Rationalisation of coach education schemes/awards: Cost £7,000
  • Sport for all Leader Award: Cost £8,000

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