Government Sports Policy

EDM number 1397 in 1994-95, proposed by Tom Pendry on 12/07/1995.

That this House regrets the downgrading of the Government's proposed White Paper on sport, Official Report, column 316, 23rd March 1995, to press conference document; applauds the Sports Council's existing policies on school sport, with schemes including governors' advice packs, training materials, support and fostering closer links between schools and sports clubs; welcomes the Council's commitment to excellence in sport with its national sports centre, sports science expertise and its recent decision to distribute ú1 million amongst UK top sportspeople, reflecting a precedent set by a Labour government in 1978; further regrets the Council's effectiveness being severely hampered by a restructuring exercise lasting over four years which proposes reducing staff by a quarter; calls upon the Prime Minister to say what new funds will be made available for sport, reminding him of his and his Ministers' promises that National Lottery money will remain additional to Government spending; further notes that no school sports policy will succeed without ending the sale of school playing fields - replacing DES Circular 909 to honour the Prime Minister's pledge made at his Party conference after Opposition pressure and the CCPR's popular campaign, offering two hours a week of sport in curriculum time and providing a range of opportunity, without compelling children to play competitive team games, whilst promoting sport for all as the base from which excellence is nurtured; and calls on the Government to announce its proposals directly to the House and hold a thorough debate on sport, in Government time, before the summer recess.

This motion has been signed by a total of 102 MPs.