HC Deb 05 March 1997 vol 291 cc623-4W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to encourage students to participate in sport and physical recreation. [17414]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 26 February 1997]: The sport policy statement, "Sport: Raising the Game", published in July 1995, set out the Government's strategy for rebuilding the strength of British sport at all levels, from sport in schools, through sports clubs and further and higher education institutions, to our top athletes.

In "Sport: Raising the Game", we emphasised the importance of students continuing to have the opportunity to develop a lifelong involvement in recreational or competitive sport at colleges and universities. We shall continue to emphasise this at every opportunity.

Following on from the policy statement, in June 1996, the Further Education Funding Council produced its first report on good practice in sports provision in the further education sector, which included audited information. The report also includes examples of good practice. The FEFC has agreed to update its database on sports provision annually, to continue to comment on sports provision and students achievements in sport in its inspection reports, and to monitor changes in provision indicated by statistical returns from colleges.

Also following on from the policy statement, in December 1996, the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Conference of Principals jointly published "Sport in Higher Education", an important part of which is the first ever in-depth survey of the extent and nature of sports facilities and opportunities, including community use, in the higher education sector. The report makes a number of recommendations higher education institutions might pursue to raise the profile of sport, including ensuring that institutions' literature, particularly the prospectus, conveys the scope of available sports facilities and infrastructure, and records students' sporting achievements.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans her Department has to aid universities and colleges in implementing the recommendations of the Bannister committee's report into university sports scholarships. [17408]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 26 February 1997]: The Bannister committee's report highlights examples of best practice and sets out guidelines for the operation of university sports scholarship schemes. I fully back that guidance and hope further and higher education institutions will follow it. The results will undoubtedly benefit both the institutions and their sports scholars.

Over the post two years, further and higher education institutions across the United Kingdom have benefited substantially from lottery grants for upgrading existing sports facilities and for building new ones. Under the lottery-funded world class performance programme, applications for the funding of individual athletes must be made through the national governing bodies of sport. Where an eligible athlete is also a student, part of the grant awarded to that athlete may be used to offset all or part of the student's study costs. The first awards under the world class performance programme will be made shortly.

Mr. Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what analysis has been made to determine what proportion of students in secondary education who progress on to further or higher education continue to participate in sport and physical recreation while studying. [17409]

Mr. Sproat

[holding answer 26 February 1997]: The 1990 general household survey indicated that 91 per cent. of full-time students take part in sport or physical recreation on a regular basis.