The House of Lords has today agreed to
appoint a new Committee on a National Plan for Sport and
Recreation chaired by
The Committee will consider the effectiveness of the
Government’s current sport and recreation policies, and whether
the growth of multiple public bodies tasked with promoting
participation in sport has delivered a healthier and more active
nation. The Committee will also consider how sports bodies can
respond to the challenges caused by the COVID-19
Pandemic.
The inquiry comes as both professional and grassroots
sports try and find ways to operate effectively during the
pandemic and some of
our biggest sporting institutions propose new governance and
competitive structures for their games.
The Committee includes members with significant
experience and expertise in sport including 11 time Olympic Gold
medallist , former Sport Minister, British
Olympic Association Chairman and Olympic Silver Medallist
and
, the
Vice-Chairman of the Premier League’s West Ham
United.
Commenting on the appointment Lord Willis,
said:
“I am very pleased to be appointed Chair of what I
think will be a really important and timely Committee. Over the
past 25 years the landscape for delivering sport and recreation
has changed hugely with the creation of organisations like Sport
England, UK Sport and UKActive, and the successful hosting of
major sporting events across the UK. However, has this delivered
a more active and sporting nation?
“Our inquiry will seek to understand whether
Government policy on sports and recreation can meet the many
expectations that are placed on sport to improve physical and
mental health at grassroots level, and deliver international
successes for the country at the top end. The current pandemic
has shone a light on some of the longstanding issues in both
professional and amateur sport, and our inquiry will look at how
our sporting landscape can respond and rebound stronger from the
current crisis.
“We will publish a Call for Evidence later this year
and I hope those with a passion or interest in sport will let us
know their thoughts on how we can deliver a better sporting
future for our country.”
The full list of Members appointed to sit on
the new Committee are:
Willis of Knaresborough, L. (Chair)
Addington, L.
Blower, B.
Brady, B.
Grey-Thompson, B.
Hayward, L.
Knight of Weymouth, L.
Krebs, L.
Morris of Yardley, B.
Moynihan, L.
Sater, B.
Snape, L.
Notes to Editors
-
The Committee has been appointed “to consider the
effectiveness of current sport and recreation policies and
initiatives, and the case for a national plan for sport and
recreation, and to make recommendations”
-
The Committee must report by 30 November
2021
