HC Deb 19 March 2002 vol 382 cc198-9W
Mr. Baron

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her policy is on the provision of financial support for international sporting events in the UK. [43439]

Mr. Caborn

The benefits to the United Kingdom of hosting international sporting events are enormous. As well as encouraging economic investment and tourism, such events leave legacies of sporting development.

The provision of financial support for major events bids is a matter for the Sports Councils to determine against their clear and robust funding criteria. UK Sport currently makes available approximately £1.6 million per year in Lottery funding to assist with the bidding processes for, and the staging of, major sporting events in the UK. Sport England considers funding applications for these purposes against its general funding criteria.