§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken to encourage schools to extend sporting opportunities outside school hours. [34220]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 16 March 1998]: The Department works closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and with other agencies to provide a range of sporting opportunities within and beyond the school curriculum. The Government are also keen to encourage out of school hours clubs in schools and in other community premises, including sports clubs. We will shortly publish a national framework for out of school hours learning, which will acknowledge the valuable work already done to motivate young people and help them become more active learners, and suggest ways in which this can be developed. The New Opportunities Fund will administer £200 million of Lottery funding for out of school hours learning, including sporting activities.
§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps he has taken since I May 1997 to encourage greater co-operation between schools and local communities in sports matters. [34207]
§ Ms Estelle Morris[holding answer 16 March 1998]: Co-operation between schools and their communities is always important, and particularly so where such co-operation leads to the more effective use of resources and the development of school-community links. The Government will shortly publish a national framework for out of school hours learning, which will acknowledge the valuable work already done by schools and youth and community workers, as well as others, to motivate young people and help them become more active learners through a variety of different activities, including sport.