§ Mr. GorrieTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will consider using Lottery funds available for athletics to revive the British Athletics Federation or create a successor body. [19773]
§ Mr. BanksUK Athletics 1998, an interim successor body to the British Athletics Federation, was announced on 28 November. The United Kingdom Sports Council is proposing to make a significant investment through its Exchequer funding to support the body during its envisaged 12 months' life. The Government welcomes the formation of this new body and very much hopes that the consultation process which the new body is to manage will be the first step to establishing the most effective structures for athletics in this country. I am pleased that the United Kingdom Sports Council has been able to assist with this process.