The Chair of the Select Committee inquired about the criteria for allocating funds based on lost ticket sales or revenue and asked how 'need' would be defined. He also questioned what proportion of revenues would be covered by the package.

The MP welcomed the support but questioned the loans approach instead of grants, expressed disappointment over men’s football exclusion, and asked about the impact on devolved nations like Scotland.

The MP congratulated the minister on securing financial support for rugby union and football, focusing on grassroots rugby's challenges due to lack of play. She asked about conversations with Rugby Football Union regarding funding distribution.

I very much welcome this statement, as will sports clubs locally. Will this new package be backdated for sports clubs that faced regional lockdowns? I also highlight the important role that broadcasters played during the pandemic, and could continue to play, with more sports fixtures universally available, free to air. Has this not shown the importance of the listed events regime?

I welcome the Minister’s statement. He mentions leisure centres. I also put in a plea for the great outdoors, because many of our open spaces—parks and the like—are supported and maintained by community groups and councils, and they need funding to provide that. I also welcome his continued efforts to allow spectators to watch sports. League Two Grimsby Town play their home games in my constituency, and we fans are desperately keen to see at least one or two games before the end of the season.

I, too, thank the Government for the support package that has been announced today, but no matter how much financial support there is, we need our supporters back into our stadiums. Bath’s local football and rugby clubs have worked a great deal over the summer to make sure that spectators can be safely brought back to matches. I know the Government are also keen to see that, but we need a clear road map from them on how our fans can return. Will the Minister therefore meet me to discuss the plans of Bath Rugby club and Bath City football club to get spectators back at the earliest possibility?

As a lifelong Mansfield Town supporter, I want to get back into the One Call Stadium as soon as possible to cheer on the mighty Stags. Having 1,000 fans inside football grounds is not enough to cover clubs’ costs, and we need our clubs to survive. Will my hon. Friend look at having a sliding scale attendance figure for each Football League club, based on its current capacity, which will allow fans to support their teams safely and give clubs a financial boost, which they need to survive?

I thank the Minister for his statement. Three weeks ago, a number of MPs met Rick Parry, the chair of the English Football League, to discuss the crisis facing EFL clubs. He told us that 10 clubs were unlikely to be able to pay their wages this month, and if substantial financial assistance was not available soon a number would go out of business. I have not heard anything in the statement today that would give reassurance to the EFL and the clubs. I am sure the Minister recognises that clubs are not like any other business; if one closes, fans cannot go down the road and simply buy their football from another club. Fans give a lifetime of support to their club and clubs are at the heart of their community. So will the Minister now respond to the letter that I sent him, along with the hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe (Damian Collins), on behalf of the all-party group on football? Will the Minister agree to meet us to discuss the problem of the EFL and meet Rick Parry, its chair, to have a look again at the financial assistance that is going to be needed to ensure that when spectators go back to football they will actually have a team to support?

I really welcome the Minister’s announcement that national league clubs up to level 7 will get extra support. Unfortunately, Northern league clubs including Consett, Tow Law Town, Crook Town and Willington in my constituency, along with Northallerton Town in the constituency of my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Rishi Sunak), are not quite there at the right level yet. We have had support from Sport England and the Football Foundation, but will he hear representations for support from the Northern league?

Football gives hope and joy to millions, just as we saw last week when big Davie Marshall dived to his left-hand side to send Scotland to our first European championships since 1996. For that hope and joy to persist, we need our football clubs in Scotland to exist. Will the Minister explain why £97 million-worth of cultural funding has been made available to Scotland through Barnett consequentials but we have yet to see a single penny of direct funding to support Scottish professional football clubs?

I welcome the package. I take note of what the Minister said about the football league, but, as he knows, there is no financial package in place for community clubs in the football league. People may wonder why it is that, for example, the Exeter Chiefs—the premiership rugby team and European champions—will benefit along with premiership rugby from Government support but Exeter City football club, with its lower income and lower fan attendance, has so far got nothing at all. There needs to be more of a focus on those community clubs in the football league. After the end of the lockdown on 2 December, will communities in tier 3 not see grassroots sport return? There is concern about that, and I would be grateful for his reassurance, even if only to say that no decision has yet been made.

I have been contacted by sports clubs in my constituency, many of which, including Bedford Town and Kempston Rovers, are still unclear about what support, if any, they will get to help them through the crisis. While today’s announcement may be a relief to many rugby clubs, I am not confident that it will be enough to save those with a sustainable model such as Bedford Blues. Will the Minister guarantee that all clubs will be better off under today’s announcement than they were under the furlough scheme?

Welcomed additional financial support for rugby league clubs and inquired about the contribution of his Department to underwrite the world cup due next year.

Expressed concern about grassroots sports clubs struggling and asked what is being done to ensure that the funding gets to these clubs.

Asked about ensuring that the Welsh Government receives the money to distribute to sports clubs in Wales.

Concerned about community leisure facilities in disadvantaged areas being at risk of closure due to financial impact of the pandemic.

Asked if any of the announced resources could be used to facilitate a bid for Northern Ireland to host the WRC in 2021.

Asked how much of the announced money Southend United will receive and inquired about golf clubs and bowls clubs.

Thanked the Minister and inquired about conversations with Welsh Government regarding funding.

Asked for financial support to resurface the Landseer Park BMX track in a deprived area.

Asked for assurances that support will not be withdrawn from clubs with spectator pilots despite small revenue from ticket sales.

Asked to look at why UK Athletics and England Athletics are allowed to self-assess their spending, requesting a meeting with affected athletes.

Scottish football clubs, such as Forfar Athletic in my constituency, rely heavily on ticket sales for revenue. With gate receipts making up approximately 43% of club revenues, the MP asks when the Minister can provide details about Barnett consequentials to assist Scottish Government colleagues and local clubs with planning.

Welcoming the current sports support package, the MP emphasises the importance of transitioning to an approach that acknowledges the benefits of sport for both physical and mental health. He calls on the Minister to persuade Health and Social Care to adopt an evidence-based risk management strategy.

Smaller local sports teams such as Radcliffe and Prestwich Heys in Bury South are a source of community pride. The MP asks if the winter survival package will support grassroots football, not just big city clubs.

Thanking the Minister for meeting to discuss urgent help for rugby league clubs like Castleford Tigers, the MP seeks assurance that support will continue beyond the current package, including grants and loans as needed.