§ Lady HermonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether motorcycle road racing clubs in Northern Ireland can avail themselves of the Safe Sports Grounds fund for essential work at road racing circuits. [170250]
§ Angela SmithMotorcycle road racing clubs cannot avail themselves of funding from the Sports Council Safe Sports Grounds fund for essential work at road racing circuits as the Safe Sports Grounds Interim Scheme ended in March 2003. However, approximately £175,000 has been provided, via the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, over the past three years for essential safety work at road racing circuits. Moreover, motor sports clubs may be able to avail of funding for essential works from monies provided by the Sports Council to the two and four Wheel Motor Sport Steering Group Ltd., the umbrella group of motor sports governing bodies, for the development of motor sport as a whole in Northern Ireland.