§ 20. Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he last had discussions with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport about the allocation of time in school hours for physical education. [138381]
§ Jacqui SmithMy right hon. Friend and I meet regularly with DCMS Ministers and discuss a wide range of issues including the Government's Sport Strategy. These discussions include the aspiration that schools should provide two hours of physical activity a week. The meetings are backed up by a comprehensive set of arrangements involving a wide range of partners in the educational and sports sectors, to advise on the implementation of the Sports Strategy. A group considering education issues is meeting monthly and will put proposals to both Secretaries of State in December. In September, the Prime Minister also announced further major investment in sport. £750 million of Lottery funding will be targeted at refurbishing PE and sports facilities in over 1,500 schools and outdoor adventure facilities. In conjunction with this, the Schools Sports Co-ordinators scheme will be expanded to 1,000 co-ordinators in communities of greatest need, based in families of primary and secondary schools, and 150 Specialist Sports Colleges will be established by 2004 to provide the lead in innovative practice, and to work with partner secondary and primary schools to share good practice and raise standards.