§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment his Department has made of the impact of the safety checks introduced by British Athletics 98 on the number of all-weather running tracks available for use; and what assistance his Department will provide to local authorities to replace all-weather running tracks which have been declared unsafe by British Athletics. [57893]
§ Mr. BanksNo direct assessment has been made of the impact of the safety checks on the number of all-weather running tracks available for use. However, the English Sports Council (ESC) has provided financial and other support services to UK Athletics '98 over the last year to produce a national facilities strategy. This is due for publication and promotion in December 1998. The strategy recognises that the sport needs to encourage better management and maintenance of existing all weather tracks, which are predominantly owned and managed by local authorities.
No direct assistance from the UK Sports Council (UKSC) or ESC has been provided to local authorities to replace all-weather tracks which have been declared unsafe. However, both the UKSC and ESC are planning to provide exchequer funding to the new national governing body, Athletics UK, to support a new staffing structure which will include a full-time Facilities Co-ordinator post. This post will enable the sport to provide more pro-active advice and better services to local authorities and other track providers as to what is best practice with regard to the management of athletics stadia. In addition, local authorities may also apply to the ESC for a grant from 67W the Lottery Sports Fund to help build new or upgraded facilities. Around £250 million of Lottery Grants will be awarded to sport in 1998–99.