HC Deb 17 January 2000 vol 342 cc344-5W
Mr. Hoyle

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department provides to local cricket clubs to encourage wider participation in the game. [105087]

Kate Hoey

Exchequer funding for cricket, via Sport England, is supporting development officers who are working to increase participation in the game, focusing particularly on junior players. Cricket is also benefiting from BT Top Sport delivered by the Youth Sports Trust and Sport England which is aimed at encouraging young people to participate in sport. In addition, local cricket clubs can apply for funding under the Millennium Festival Awards for All scheme whereby applicants must demonstrate, among other things, that they intend to use the funding to encourage wider participation at a local level.