After-school Sports Clubs (Hansard, 16 February 1999)

§ Mr. Spring
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the amount of money which the New Opportunities Fund will spend on after-school sports clubs. [70650]

§ Mr. Banks
[holding answer 15 February 1999]: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport said in his reply to the hon. Member for East Surrey (Mr. Ainsworth) on 16 November 1998, Official Report, column 350, no specific amount has been earmarked for providing children with sporting opportunities at after-school clubs, but activities offered may include sporting and outdoor learning activities, and structured, learning-oriented play. The amount allocated for these activities will be determined by the New Opportunities Fund in response to the applications received.
The New Opportunities Fund will commit £400 million to out of school hours activities during the current licence period to September 2001. Of this, £180 million will be committed to education activities, £200 million to child care, and £20 million to projects combining child care and education.
Out of school hours education projects should involve at least half of all secondary schools, at least a quarter of all primary schools, and at least half of all special schools by 2001. Out of school child care projects should provide places for 865,000 children by 2003.
The Prime Minister also announced an extra £400 million for the New Opportunities Fund between now and 2001. We have consulted on how this money 698W should be spent and have proposed that part of the additional amount should be committed to an expansion of the existing out of school hours initiative, to enhance the contribution made by summer schools not only to literacy, numeracy and opportunities for arts, but also to sport.

§ Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Government will take to encourage physical exercise as part of its new after-school care programme. [70295]

§ Mr. Banks
Through the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) we have committed £400 million of National Lottery money to out of school hours activities during the current licence period to September 2001. Of this, £180 million has been committed to education activities, £200 million to child care, and £20 million to projects combining child care and education. Out of school hours education projects should involve at least half of all secondary schools, at least a quarter of all primary schools, and at least half of all special schools by 2001. Out of school child care projects should provide places for 865,000 children by 2003.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has also announced an extra £400 million for the New Opportunities Fund between now and 2001. We have consulted on how this money should be spent and have proposed that part of the additional amount should be committed to an expansion of the existing out of school hours initiative, to enhance the contribution made by summer schools not only to literacy, numeracy and opportunities for arts, but also to sport.
The Policy Directions issued to NOF ensure that it takes into account relevant national and local strategies in relation to each initiative. For out of school hours learning this includes Extending Opportunity: a national framework for study support (In England) and any similar guidance produced elsewhere. Study support is learning activity outside normal lessons and embraces many activities, including sports, games and adventurous outdoor activities.
The National Lottery Act 1998 required NOF to draw up a strategic plan containing its assessment of needs and its priorities in dealing with them, on which it must consult the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. This ensures that there is a proper strategy for distributing Lottery proceeds. No specific targets have been allocated to NOF for providing physical exercise opportunities at after-school clubs, but in reviewing NOF's strategic plan we shall ensure that the projects it supports promote young people's well-being through a range of activities, including sport and creative activities.