§ Lord Pendryasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to include women in sports in a voluntary capacity, including coaching and refereeing. [HL1466]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey)Sport England's equity policy, and the UK Strategy Framework for Women in Sport, ensure that all publicly funded sporting projects adhere to comprehensive equity standards.
The Government's PE, school sport and club links programme has an explicit target to increase the numbers of qualified coaches among women and of her under-represented groups. The Youth Sport Trust/Nike Girls in Sport programme is creating new opportunities for girls to participate in all areas of sport—including coaching and refereeing.
§ Lord Pendryasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made on the development of an equality standard in sport. [HL1468]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyA great deal. Sport England's equity policy, as set out in its No Limits policy statement, applies to all governing bodies which it funds from Lottery and Exchequer sources. Funding may be withdrawn if equity standards are not met.
Moreover, all four sport councils have adopted the UK Strategy Framework for Women's Sport, and 51 English governing bodies and other sporting organisations have achieved the preliminary racial equality standard of sporting equals, a partnership between Sport England and the Commission for Racial Equality.