HL Deb 20 July 2004 vol 664 cc41-2WA
Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the departmental budget allocated to the promotion of sport and physical recreation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its associated agencies for each year since 2001–02. [HL3382]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for promoting sport but Defra funds a wide range of initiatives to increase opportunities for outdoor recreation. Many of the programmes are delivered by other bodies that Defra grant-aids, in particular the Countryside Agency, the seven English National Park Authorities, the Broads Authority and the Environment Agency. Programmes include implementation of the new right of access to open country and registered common land, and improving access to water.

The actual and projected expenditure for these activities by Defra-sponsored non-departmental public bodies and National Park Authorities is as follows:

2001–02 (£ million) 2002–03 (£ million) 2003–04 (£ million) 2004–05 (£ million)
Countryside Agency 13.6 16.5 22.3 22.7
National Park Authorities (including Broads Authority) 110 111 112.5 112.5
Environment Agency 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.7
Total 25.4 29.5 36.7 36.9
1 Figures based on approximate expenditure by the Parks and Broads Authority of 35 per cent of total budgets.

In addition, Defra provides annual sums of between £12 million and £19 million to local highway authorities to meet their new rights of way obligations under Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act. These payments are made through the local authority environmental protection and cultural service block grant.