§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps are being taken to ensure that major United Kingdom and international sporting events hosted in the United Kingdom benefit all the regions and nations of the United Kingdom. [110605]
§ Kate HoeyThis Government place great importance on a fair geographical spread of major international events so that all of the UK may enjoy the sporting and wider benefits from staging such events. Last year, for example,98W matches in the Rugby Union World Cup and the Cricket World Cup were played throughout the UK. To ensure a fair distribution, UK Sport is now a Lottery distributor and funding is available on an equal basis to events throughout the UK. Indeed, in 1999 and 2000, Lottery funding was allocated or will be allocated for some 13 major events in all four home countries.