Covid-19: Sporting
Sector
(Warley) (Lab)
9. What steps he has taken to support the sporting sector during
the covid-19 outbreak. [902923]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital, Culture,
Media and Sport ()
Covid-19 has significantly impacted sport at all levels right
across the country. To fully understand the issues faced by the
sector, I chair a fortnightly meeting with more than 25 sporting
organisations representing millions of people who participate in
sport. Sporting organisations have been supported by the
Government through their job retention scheme, business loan
scheme, business rates relief and business grants. In addition,
Sport England has announced £210 million of
funding to help sport and physical activity organisations with
the effects of coronavirus.
With all these Ministers running in and out, it is less like a
Westminster farce and more like a Whitehall farce, but I hope
that the Minister will appreciate my tone slightly more than the
Home Secretary did yesterday, because I want to congratulate him
on his efforts in getting live sport back, which is not only a
huge boost to morale across the country, but a major provider of
jobs. To take one example, racing alone supports more than 80,000
jobs, but in addition, the betting industry supports 100,000 jobs
and pays £3.2 billion in tax each year to the Treasury. Will he
ensure an early return for a properly regulated, job-providing,
successful, British-based gambling industry?
I do appreciate the right hon. Member’s tone, and I agree with
him. Indeed, we are very relieved. Millions of people across the
country were very pleased to see racing back this week, and other
sports are coming as well. It was great to see Newcastle races on
Monday. We have Newmarket today. I would like to thank everybody
involved in making sure that we are able to get sport back
safely.
(Wirral South) (Lab)
Sport England’s research tells us that one
positive aspect of the lockdown is the increase in people doing
physical activity, but, as we might expect, its data shows that
the trend is not so strong for people who have limited access to
outside space. What specific and permanent change will the
Secretary of State make so that we can tackle that health
inequality?
I thank the hon. Lady for that comment. She shares my passion to
make sure that we get sport and physical activity really high on
the agenda. There are all sorts of things we can do. At the young
people’s level, we will be revising the sport and activity action
plan so that we can get young people engaged in 60 minutes of
sporting activity and we will be looking again at the sport
strategy, and I look forward to her comments in developing that
as well.
Topical
Questions
(Redcar) (Con)
I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer to my hon. Friend the
Member for Folkestone and Hythe (). When the FA took the
decision to null the season for lower-league clubs it financially
impacted clubs such as Redcar Athletic in my constituency. What
is the Department doing to support these clubs and ensure that
grassroots football remains in our communities?
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the fact that
grassroots football is central to local identity, and I am
determined that we work with the EFL to ensure that money flows
to those clubs. It is also worth noting that Sport
England has brought forward £195 million, which will be
able to support those clubs.
