§ Lord Faulkner of Worcesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will draw to the attention of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews requirement 4.7 of the United Kingdom Sports Council's guidelines for the recognition of governing bodies concerning equal opportunities. [HL1216]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone)The Sports Councils deal with applications seeking recognition as United Kingdom or home country governing bodies. Their requirements relating to equal opportunities apply only to these bodies which seek such recognition. However, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews is the International Governing Body for Golf (with the exception of the United States of America) and as such the sports councils have no 9WA authority over it. The R&A has not applied for recognition to any of the sports councils.
The content of paragraph 4.7 relating to equal opportunities policy in Sport England's Guidelines for the Recognition of English Governing Bodies does not apply.