§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support he is giving to British downhill skiers in preparation for the next Winter Olympics. [138662]
§ Kate HoeyThe Sports Councils are committed to supporting winter sport athletes who are genuine medal prospects for the Winter Olympics. UK Sport's support for British downhill skiers in preparation for Salt Lake City 2002 is currently provided within its exchequer grant to the British Ski and Snowboarding Federation (BSSF). In the year August 1999 to July 2000, the BSSF received a grant of £186,000 of which £90,000 was apportioned to support the alpine downhill programme. UK Sport has also put Lottery funding aside which will enable it to respond quickly to the sudden emergence of a medal prospect in a summer or winter Olympic sport. This would be in the form of an enhanced package of Lottery support to individual athletes. Therefore, if a British downhill skier emerges and has realistic prospects of doing well in Salt Lake City, UK Sport would be able to respond at short notice to that opportunity.
Sportscotland provides funds for downhill skiers through its Talented Athlete Lottery programme. Over £112,000 was committed from this programme in 1999–2000 while a further £80,837 has been awarded to date in this financial year. In addition, Sport England has committed a World Class Adviser to the BSSF to support them in developing a World Class Potential Plan for Skiing and Snowboarding. The Potential programme is designed to assist governing bodies with the development of talented young performers with the potential to win medals in major international competitions.
§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding was given from the National Lottery for downhill skiing in each year since its creation. [138661]
§ Kate HoeyNational Lottery support for sport is provided through UK Sport and the four home country Sports Councils. Sportscotland and Sport England have made the following awards to British Skiers through their Talented Athlete and World Class Lottery programmes:
Year £ 1995–96 180,700 1996–97 423,545 1997–98 283,008 1998–99 87,617 1999–2000 112,034