HC Deb 17 July 2003 vol 409 cc564-5W
Dr. Jack Cunningham

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on completion of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Elite Athletes Funding Group Report. [126332]

Mr. Caborn

The Elite Sports Funding Review 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.

Following 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 4-year Plans have been completed. DCMS will continue to work 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.