FUNDING FOR SPORT PROMOTION IN LONDON PLUMMETS 92% IN A YEAR

9.47.13am GMT Wed 31st Mar 2004

New figures revealed by Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate Simon Hughes today shows that that amount of funding given to promote sport in London has plummeted by 92% in the last year.

The figures, revealed in a Parliamentary answers to Mr Hughes, show that in 2002 £33.5million was given to promote sports in the capital. By 2003, this has dropped by £26.9million to just £6.6million. This equates on average to £800,000 less for each London Borough to spend on the promotion of sport.

Simon Hughes said:-

"With obesity rates rocketing it is astounding that Ministers are failing to invest in promoting sport across London. It is a tragedy that the Government has failed to recognise the benefits that sports provide.

"Getting young people into sport is a passport for a lifetime of good health. For older people sport reduces social exclusion and prevents brittle bones.

"Encouraging more Londoners into sport reduces crime, builds communities and gets people fitter, happier and healthier."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Sport Funding 22 Mar 2004 : Column 578W

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding has been provided to promote (a) hockey, (b) rugby, (c) soccer, (d) cricket and (e) other sports in Greater London [162342]

Hockey Rugby Union Football Cricket Other Sports Total

2002 Sum of Award 615,458 309,952 2,569,851 1,275,456 28,488,443 33,259,160

2003 Sum of Award 22,518 625,640 533,837 3,189,745 2,288,964 6,660,704

The table shows Sport England Lottery awards benefiting a number of schemes and programmes in London including the Safer Sports Grounds initiative, Active Sports, English Institute of Sport, Active Communities Development Fund, Sport Action Zones, Football Youth Development, Community Capital and Community Athletics Refurbishment Programme grants, as well as Awards for All grants.