Government's £810m shortfall on money for sport (Market Harborough Liberal Democrats)

Market Harborough Liberal Democrats <info@marketharboroughlibdems.org.uk>

Government's £810m shortfall on money for sport

August 27, 2008 8:33 PM

Chairman of local Liberal Democrats Phil Knowles and County Councillor Sarah Hill have expressed surprise at details obtained from Don Foster MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary. Mr Foster has revealed that over £810 million promised by the Government for school sport, community sport, and children's play facilities has not been spent.

Research found that:

nine years after the Government promised £1.115 billion for sport, targeting the most deprived parts of the country, £490 million has still not been spent;
eight years after the Government promised £750 million for school sports, £140 million has still not been spent
Seven years after the Government promised £200 million for children's play facilities, £180 million has still not been spent.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said:

"Racking up nearly a billion in broken promises is an absolute scandal. The Government has tried to con the public with headline-grabbing announcements, but they've simply failed to deliver.

"With schools, councils and community sports clubs crying out for better facilities, it beggars belief that this money has still not been spent.

"If the promised money isn't spent boosting sport and physical activity, the Olympics legacy is in grave danger of being remembered as a missed opportunity.

"While everyone accepts this Government on its last legs, the very least Gordon Brown should do is keep the promises it made almost a decade ago."

From a local point of view Phil Knowles and Sarah Hill say that Leicestershire County Council and Harborough District Council could make good use of some of this additional money to improve school and community facilities.

Phil Knowles has already been in touch with Don Fosters office to obtain more information about hos to obtain funding and Councillor Hill says: "We need to ensure that this does not mean we are missing out on funding locally. This is something we will pursue."