§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the chief executives of the international sporting bodies resident in the United Kingdom whom he has met since 1 May 1998. [77773]
§ Mr. Banks[holding answer 19 March 1999]: Since May 1998, I have had formal meetings with senior representatives from two international sports federations based in this country, namely, the Commonwealth Games Federation and the International Tennis Federation. I should stress that, through the Sports Councils as well as regular meetings and correspondence, both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have close links with the national governing bodies of sport and are well informed of developments and issues surrounding international sport federations based in this country.
This Government are fully committed to encouraging international sports federations to locate in the UK and to retaining those bodies which are already based here.