§ Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when football clubs will be paid the money due by the end of April to fund centres of excellence and academies for youth players; what the reasons are for the time taken to make the payments; what arrangements have been made to ensure that future payments are paid on time; and if she will make a statement. [115764]
§ Mr. CabornThe Government are committed to making up the £6 million shortfall in funding for the Football League"s Youth Development Programme. This covers seasons 2002–03 to 2005–06, and the commitment followed the reduction in payments to the Programme from Sport England.
The Government are working towards including the £6 million in a wider funding package for sport and the arts. The many demands from these sectors for Lottery and Exchequer funding have ensured that completing this package has not been a straightforward matter. However, I expect that the package will be finalised before the beginning of the 2003–04 season. The arrangements for payment over the period of the commitment to the Youth Programme will then be matters for the League and the relevant funding body.