§ Vernon CoakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the voluntary code obliging governing bodies of major sports to invest at least 5 per cent. of broadcasting revenues in the grassroots development of their sports; and if he will make a statement. [31172]
§ Mr. CabornThe Government believe that the Central Council of Physical Recreation's Voluntary Code on Broadcasting has been a great success since it was launched in 1996. Governing bodies in cricket, both codes of rugby, and other major sports have signed the code, and many invest rather more than the minimum of 5 per cent. of broadcasting income which it stipulates. Football's investments under the code have been successfully channelled through the Football Foundation since July 2000. The broadcasting provisions of the code apply to all signatories; these safeguard secondary, free-to-air television coverage of many major sports events.