Grassroots Sports Cannock Chase 2025-05-22

2025-05-22

TAGS
Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Josh Newbury Lab
Cannock Chase
Context
The MP references the park tennis project which provided £215,000 to revitalize four parks' tennis courts in Cannock Chase. However, adverse weather and lack of covered facilities remains an issue.
I very much welcome the Minister’s response. Through the park tennis project, Cannock Chase has benefited from £215,000 of investment from the Government and the LTA Tennis Foundation to revive tennis courts in four of our parks, but the notorious British weather remains a barrier to participation, and many in my towns and villages lack access to covered tennis and padel facilities. With the park tennis project coming to an end, will the Minister consider funding the development of more covered courts to allow my constituents to enjoy tennis, whatever the weather?
This Government want to ensure that everyone from all walks of life can get active in any way that works for them, come rain or shine. I therefore welcome the Lawn Tennis Association’s strategic ambition to grow tennis and padel by making it accessible, welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring, but all future decisions on sports facilities will be considered in the spending review.
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide a specific commitment or funding amount for covered courts despite the request.
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Louie French Con
Old Bexley and Sidcup
Context
The MP expresses concern over budget cuts affecting various sport-related initiatives including the multi-sport grassroots facilities programme, Lionesses fund, and opening school facilities grants.
I welcome the support of the hon. Member for Cannock Chase (Josh Newbury) for our investment in his constituency while we were in government. In all seriousness, however, I would like to put on record our condolences to the families of the two Israeli embassy staff killed overnight in Washington. Grassroots facilities are key to our communities and our sports clubs across the country, which is why we Conservatives invested more than £500 million in the next generation of athletes. However, in just 10 months, this Labour Government have cut the £21 million multi-sport grassroots facilities programme, scrapped the £30 million Lionesses fund and cancelled £57 million of opening school facilities grants. Equally worryingly, they are now trying to remove Sport England’s statutory role in protecting sports pitches and playing fields across the country. Is it not clear that only the Conservatives will save our sports pitches from this “say one thing and do another” Labour Government?
I simply do not recognise the shadow Minister’s comments, and I will not take any lessons from the Conservatives on facilities, given that they oversaw a decade of council cuts that left many of our sport and leisure facilities in desperate need of renovation.
Assessment & feedback
The MP did not address the specific budget cuts mentioned by the questioner but instead criticized the previous government for funding issues during their tenure.
Criticized Previous Government
Response accuracy