§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress of her Department in implementing the recommendations of the Elite Sports Funding Review Group. [122249]
§ Mr. Caborn[holding answer 30 June 2003]: The Elite Sports Funding Review chaired by Dr. Cunningham made over 50 recommendations, the large majority of which are for the Sports Councils and National Governing Bodies of sport to take forward. The Review was discussed at the Sports Cabinet on 31 October 2001, chaired by the Secretary of State. The Cabinet brings together the Sports Ministers and Chairmen of the Sports Councils from each of the Devolved Administrations. At the Cabinet, the Sports Councils accepted and are now implementing the overwhelming majority of the recommendations.
712WFollowing the recent Spending Review a ring fenced allocation of £4.7 million for 2004–05 and 2005–06 has been provided to UK Sport to enable them to take forward some of the outstanding recommendations that involved an increase in expenditure. Some of the recommendations relate to the World Class Plans and cannot be implemented until the current four year plans have been completed. This Department will continue to works with UK Sport, the Devolved Administrations and Sport England to ensure that implementation of the recommendations is effective and continues to remain relevant to the changing environment of high performance sport.