§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the national centres for disabled athletes which(a) have received Lottery funding and (b) are receiving grant-in-aid. [79434]
§ Mr. Banks[holding answer 30 March 1999]The English Sports Council are currently considering an application for Lottery funding from the British Wheelchair Sports Foundation to support the redevelopment of facilities at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
The five National Sports Centres operated by the English Sports Council at Bisham Abbey, Crystal Palace, Holme Pierrepont, Lilleshall and Plas Y Brenin provide services for people with disabilities, including suitable accommodation. None of the Centres receives Lottery funding at present but they are all in receipt of exchequer grant-in-aid for both revenue running costs and capital maintenance costs.
§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations, and from whom, he has received calling for Lottery funding for the British Wheelchair Sports Foundation at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. [79435]
§ Mr. Banks[holding answer 30 March 1999]Ministers in this Department have received no such representations. However, the English Sports Council, distributors in England of the Lottery Sports Fund, have been in discussion with the British Wheelchair Sports Foundation and agreed that an application for Lottery funding should be made.
The British Wheelchair Sports Foundation have also been invited to take the development of the Stoke Mandeville site forward as part of a Southern Consortium Network site in the English Network of the UK Sports Institute. The Lottery application and UK Sports Institute development are currently being assessed.