HC Deb 10 December 1997 vol 302 cc557-9W
Mr. Gorrie

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has to help the British Athletics Federation to extend professional athletics coaching throughout the country. [19772]

Mr. Banks

A grant of £1.46 million has been awarded to British athletics by the National Lottery Sports Fund for their World Class Performance Plan, an agreed development programme for 195 of our top athletes. This includes provision for the employment of a Performance Director and four Technical Directors, as well as support for 18 National Event Coaches. This will ensure that our top athletes have access to the professional coaching they need to achieve greater success on the world stage. A separate stand-alone company has been established to receive the Lottery Grant and manage the programmes set out in the World Class Performance Plan.

The British Athletics Federation is currently in administration following a High Court decision on 13 October to appoint Insolvency Practitioners to advise on its future administration. As part of the process for setting up a new governing body, the Trustees of its interim successor, UK Athletics 1998, will be examining how new structures for coach education can be established so that in future athletes at all levels receive appropriate coaching.

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