To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what consultations the Sports Council had with anglers and walkers before deciding to support the opponents of the proposed speed limit on Lake Windermere at the public inquiry; [14604]

Minister	Date	Location	Purpose	Cost to nearest £100
Mr. Clarke	12 May-14 May	Cannes	Support for the British film industry	1,700
Mr. Smith	14 May-16 May	Cannes	Support for the British film industry	1,500
Mr. Banks	10 June-11 June	Paris	Support for the FA bid for the World Cup 2006 and attend the Turnoi de France	1,600
Mr. Fisher	28 June-1 July	Rome/Luxembourg	Attending State opening and Culture Council	1,900
Mr. Fisher	28 July-same day	Brussels	Meet representatives of the EP Culture and Media Committee	1,600
Mr. Clarke	31 August-3 September	Venice/Rome	Support for the British film industry/Meeting with Italian DPM	2,600
Mr. Clarke	2 October-5 October	Brittany	Support for the British film industry	500
Mr. Clarke	8 October-15 October	Far East	Promotion of British tourism	10,200
Mr. Banks	10 October-same day	Rome	Support for the FA bid for the World Cup 2006 and attend the England v Italy qualifier	1,600
Mr. Fisher	15 October-16 October	Frankfurt	Promotion of the British publishing industry and attend the European Book Fair	1,200
Mr. Banks	23 October-30 October	USA/Trinidad/Costa Rica	Support for the FA bid for the World Cup 2006	9,800
Mr. Smith	21 October-26 October	USA	Promotion of British creative industries	112,100
Mr. Smith	11 November-same day	Brussels	Visit to the European Commission	1500
			Total	46,800
1 Denotes full figures not yet available.

The then GB Sports Council (GBSC) consulted a wide range of sports interests groups before deciding to support the opponents of the proposed speed limit upon Lake Windermere. Anglers and walkers organisations included:

• Salmon and Trout Association;
• Furness and South Cumbria Fisheries Consultative Association;
• Northern Federation of Sea Angling Societies;
• Fly Dresser' Guild;
• Ramblers Association; and
• Northumberland Long Distance Walkers' Association.

In 1996–97, the GBSC and its successor, the English Sports Council (ESC) spent £7,200 on the Lake Windermere speed limit issue. In 1997–98 to date, the ESC has spent £4,600. Information on GBSC spending in previous years could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The Lake District National Park Authority successfully appealed to the High Court to have the original decision not to introduce a speed limit quashed. A hearing took place on 18 November at which the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions did not oppose the Authority's legal challenge. He is now required to re-consider the whole issue afresh and a further round of representations is necessary.