§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public funding has been received by Supporters Direct in each financial year since 2000–01. [188062]
§ Mr. CabornSupporters Direct has received the following funding:
1461W
£ Financial year England and Wales Scotland 2000–01 250,000 — 2001–02 250,000 — 2002–03 294,000 75,000 2003–04 325,000 75,000 2004–05 1325,000 190,000 1 TBC
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what mechanisms are in place to ensure the allocation of public funds to supporter's trusts by Supporters Direct is transparent, equitable and objective. [188063]
§ Mr. CabornThere are strong mechanisms in place to safeguard the allocation of funding to supporters trusts by Supporters Direct.
Supporters Direct are regulated by the Financial Services Authority and they evaluate the eligibility of all groups applying for funding according to clear criteria, laid down and enforced by the Supporters Direct Board. Details can be found on the Supporters Direct website at www.supporters-direct.org.
All grants to Supporters Direct are capped at a maximum reimbursement of 50 per cent. up to a value of £1,000. This is a one-off payment. All expenditure is documented by receipts. All grants are reported to the Board of Supporters Direct and grants are only made to existing supporters trusts.
Supporters Direct are currently audited by Limehouse and Co.
§ Dr. StarkeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what procedures are in place to prevent Supporters Direct's allocation of public funds being influenced by the club interests of current members. [188064]
§ Mr. CabornSupporters Direct is an Industrial and Provident Society and has rules approved by and registered at the Financial Services Authority. Those rules were drafted by the official lawyers to the Cooperative Movement.
Its members are the existing supporters' trusts. Membership of Supporters Direct is subject to the provisions in its rules and the policy on membership agreed by the Board of Supporters Direct. The funding it receives from Sport England and Sport Scotland respectively is related to agreed business plans, and is managed according to policy laid down by the Board of Supporters Direct, which is elected by the members.
As a body in receipt of public funding, the Board have a clear conflict of interest policy, and a register of board members' interests is maintained. Members with an interest in a particular issue do not debate or vote on the issue, and staff with an interest do not undertake to work on it.