HC Deb 04 December 2001 vol 376 cc155-6W
Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the constituency deprivation criteria for bids to the new opportunities fund for sport bids; and if she will make a statement. [20541]

Mr. Caborn

Under the new opportunities for PE and sport programme, the new opportunities fund has allocated funding to each local education authority (LEA) area. The allocations have been determined on the basis of the size of the school population and the number of people living in deprived wards in the area.

It is for local partnerships, led by LEAs, to decide what the needs and priorities are in local areas, within the context of the new opportunities fund's programme guidance. A key criterion in the assessment of bids will be that projects meet the aim of promoting social inclusion.