Elite Sports Funding (Hansard, 28 November 2000)

§ Mr. Chris Smith

UK athletes did exceptionally well in Sydney, our best performance for 80 years. We now want to build on that to produce an even more effective performance at the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Following the decision of the Sports Cabinet on 6 October that there should be a review, the Prime Minister has asked my right hon. Friend the Member for Copeland (Dr. Cunningham) to lead a group examining the way our top athletes are supported through the Lottery, looking especially at two key componentsthe world class performance programme structure and funding and the underpinning support structures provided by the UK Sports Institute taking into account the work of the Sports Strategy Implementation Groups. The review is urgent given that the Commonwealth Games are only 20 months away and the UK Sports Institute is being developed.

My right hon. Friend has been appointed by the Prime Minister in consultation with myself and will report directly to us. The group will be advised by Sue Campbell, sports adviser to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education and Employment. The first meeting of the group is planned for Tuesday 28 November.

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Members of the group:

The full list of members of the group are:

The right hon. Dr. Jack Cunningham MP (Chair)

John Anderson (Performance Director, Canoeing)

Brendan Foster (Athletics and Broadcasting)

Peter Keen (Performance Director, Cycling)

Mark Lewis-Francis (Athletics)

Steve Pullen (Judo Paralympics)

Jane Sixsmith (Women's Hockey)

One member has still to be appointed

Terms of reference

The group, led by my right hon. Friend, has the following terms of reference:

Phase I

To review the World Class Performance Programme, in particular:

its contribution to success in the Sydney Olympics in different sports and any lessons to be learned

the Lottery based funding

the relationship between the funding provided by UK Sport and that provided by the English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish Sports Councils

the links between the different elements of the programme as they relate to elite athletes and those with promise

and to make recommendations to ensure that effective systems are in place for the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and in the lead up to the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Phase II

To review the current structure of the UK Sports Institute in particular

the links between the UK Sports Institute and the Sports Institutes of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

the support which the Institutes give to elite athletes and the relationship to the world class performance programme

and to make recommendations to implement an effective UK wide strategy to give athletes access to the best facilities and services in the most effective and efficient way possible.