§ Patsy CaltonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the contribution sport can make to meeting the Government's social agenda; and how much investment the Government are making in sports' governing bodies for delivering this purpose. [79183]
§ Mr. CabornA Sporting Future for All and the Government's Plan for Sport fully recognised the potential of sport and physical activity as a powerful tool for social, educational and physical well being. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Sport is therefore working very closely with colleagues in other Government departments including Education and Skills, Health, Home Office, Transport and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister which have an interest in sport representatives from whom he meets every month.
Many of the current sports funding programmes are also targeted specifically at areas of social and sporting deprivation. These include the New Opportunities Fund Sport and PE in School programme, the Spaces for Sport and the Arts programme and Sport Action Zones.
Government funding for national governing bodies of sport is largely channelled through the sports councils. This funding supports a range of their activities including their sports development plans which will in many instances have an impact on areas such as social inclusion, physical well being and crime reduction.