§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what targets her Department has set Sport England for the funding of athletics; and if she will make a statement; [17945]
(2) what plans she has to direct Sport England to divert the resources earmarked for the 2005 World Athletics Championships to the development of grassroots athletics; and if she will make a statement. [17943]
§ Mr. CabornThe UK's offer to stage the World Athletics Championship in Sheffield in 2005 has not been accepted by the International Association of Athletic Federations. Sport England will therefore reallocate the lottery funds originally earmarked in principle for staging the Championships to other projects to benefit grassroots sport including athletics in particular.
UK Athletics, Sport England and officials from my Department are co-operating to produce an agreed development plan for athletics which aims to increase the number of people involved in the sport as competitors, organisers, coaches and officials; to improve systems for identifying and developing talent; provide better facilities; and strengthen support for our top competitors. Details of the plan are under discussion and will be published in the near future.