Grassroots Sport Participation 2022-12-01
2022-12-01
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about encouraging grassroots participation in sports across communities.
What steps her Department is taking to encourage grassroots participation in sport. I am concerned about ensuring that local communities have the resources and opportunities needed to engage in sporting activities.
Grassroots sports bind our communities together and make people happier as well as healthier. Since 2019, Sport England has invested over £200,000 in my hon. Friend's constituency, including £40,000 during the pandemic. In October, I announced £35 million of Commonwealth games physical activity legacy funding, opening up sporting opportunities across the west midlands. The Government are continuing to invest directly in grassroots sports facilities.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific steps and mechanisms for encouraging grassroots participation were not detailed.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Northfield Town Football Club has plans for a new all-weather football pitch and female facilities. The MP is seeking support from the Government to help these ambitions become reality.
I recently met Matt and Alan from Northfield Town football club, who have ambitious plans for a new all-weather football pitch and female facilities for changing rooms and toilets. How can we support Northfield Town football club to make the new facilities a reality?
Government investment, along with that from the Football Association and the Premier League, is delivered through the Football Foundation. Since 2019, the foundation has invested about £8 million in more than 300 projects in the Birmingham area, targeted based on local football facility plans. I am sure that the foundation would be keen to hear from Northfield Town about its ambitions. We will facilitate that via my office.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitments or funding details for Northfield Town Football Club were not provided.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of removing free-to-air television coverage from sports like cricket and its negative effects on grassroots participation. He mentions a previous meeting with a Sports Minister to discuss this issue.
As they say, you have to see it to be it, and it is well known that, when cricket disappeared from terrestrial TV and went on to paid-for satellite TV, participation levels at grassroots plummeted. A great many Scottish football fans cannot view the Scottish men's national team on free-to-air TV, and that has hit participation levels. The previous Sports Minister met me to discuss how we might improve the situation. Might the Secretary of State do me the same courtesy?
I would be delighted to meet the hon. Member.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific issue regarding TV coverage and its effect on participation was not addressed.
Response accuracy