(Wrexham) (Con): What
steps his Department is taking to support grassroots sport.
The Minister for Sport, Media and Creative Industries (): The Government are
committed to making sure that everyone is able to participate in
sport and physical activity, regardless of their background or
ability. Sport England is investing over £1
billion of lottery and Exchequer funding in grassroots sports
over the period 2017 to 2021 to support a physically active
nation.
: As we all know, rugby
is in the blood of the Welsh, but in Wrexham football is
prevalent. Would the Minister like to accompany me to Wrexham
rugby club to see the work it and Welsh Rugby Union are doing to
introduce grassroots rugby to the children of Wrexham?
: Of course, I would love
to go to Wrexham. I would love to go to Wrexham regardless of
whether I have still got the job. I can tell my hon. Friend that
it will not be my first visit. If anybody remembers, Goole
Town—the mighty Goole Town—played Wrexham in the FA cup third
round in 1976, and I was there. If anybody can tell me the score,
there will be a prize for them.
I would like to thank my hon. Friend for her interest in this
area. Nowhere has a richer rugby heritage than Wales. I would
like to offer my commiserations on Wales’s disappointing Six
Nations result on Saturday—a valiant clash—but we look forward to
7 March. She will know that sport is a devolved matter, but I
look forward—fingers crossed—to coming to Wrexham very
shortly.
(Buckingham) (Con): Just a few
years ago, Buckingham Ladies hockey team were using marmite jars
on a table top to plan their tactics, and they had only five
players and no goalkeeper, but I am delighted to say that, on 2
February, they lifted the cup, winning the Jaffa Super 6s final.
Will my hon. Friend join me in warmly congratulating Buckingham
Ladies, and let me know what plans the Government have to support
more teams like them to thrive?
: First, I congratulate my
hon. Friend on taking his seat; it is great that Buckingham has a
Conservative MP once again. I also congratulate Buckingham
Ladies: what a fantastic effort to win the Jaffa Super 6s. I
really encourage my hon. Friend to get the club to engage with
local representatives from Sport England. These
are exactly the sorts of clubs we need to nurture and see
grow.
(Broxtowe) (Con): Local
clubs are a great way to help young people participate in sport.
In my Broxtowe constituency, , a parent volunteer, has
worked tirelessly to renovate the Trent Vale community sports
association clubhouse. Will the Minister join me in paying
tribute to all community volunteers who support grassroots sport?
: It gives me great
pleasure to congratulate my hon. Friend’s constituents. There are
6.7 million volunteers in sport throughout the UK, which is an
incredible number. We must recognise the people who give of their
own time by volunteering specifically to help young people.
Sport England is investing £15 million a year
through its community asset fund between 2017 and 2021 to support
communities just like my hon. Friend’s.
(Bridgend) (Con): Bridgend’s
local council is proposing to increase the fees that it charges
local sports clubs by up to 500%. Many of these clubs tell me
that they will need to close if that is implemented. Does my hon.
Friend that every step should be taken, at all levels of
government, to improve grassroots sport?
: That is absolutely right.
I agree that the Government should seek to support sport and
physical activity at every level so that everyone, regardless of
their age or ability, has the option to get more active. That is
why, through Sport England we are investing more
than £1 billion between 2017 and 2021 to get more people active
and to reach out to people who traditionally have not necessarily
thought that sport and physical activity is for them.
