§ Mr. ReedTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture. Media and Sport what funding her Department will give the Football Foundation in(a) 2001–02 and (b) 2002–03. [18483]
§ Mr. CabornMy Department does not fund the Football Foundation direct. However, under the current partnership arrangements, the Football Foundation should receive the following public funds in the three-year period 2001–02 to 2003–04: £18 million from the Sport England lottery fund, up to £30 million from the new opportunities fund PE and school sport programme, and donations from the pools companies of several million pounds in accordance with their agreement with the Government. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his pre-Budget report that the current agreement with Littlewoods and Vernons, which was due to end in March 2002, would be renewed for a further two years until 31 March 2004. The donations from the pools companies will be equivalent in those two years to 2 per cent. of their gross profits.