Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Grassroots Sport Participation

Thursday 1 December 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Grassroots sports are supported by investments from Sport England exceeding 200,000 in the constituency since 2019.
  • The Football Foundation has invested about 8 million in over 300 projects in the Birmingham area since 2019.
  • The Minister offered to meet with the hon. Member to discuss concerns regarding access to football matches on free-to-air television.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gary Sambrook
Culture, Media & Sport
Context

The MP is concerned about encouraging grassroots participation in sports across communities.

Question

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.

Answer from Michelle Donelan

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps and mechanisms for encouraging grassroots participation were not detailed.

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Q2 Gary Sambrook
Culture, Media & Sport
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

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.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific commitments or funding details for Northfield Town Football Club were not provided.

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Q3 Gavin Newlands SNP
Culture, Media & Sport
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.

Question

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?

Answer from Michelle Donelan

I would be delighted to meet the hon. Member.

Not addressed: The specific issue regarding TV coverage and its effect on participation was not addressed.

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