To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations her Department has received about continued funding for UK Deaf Sport; and if she will make a statement. (144974)

The Department has received correspondence from Craig Crowley, chair of UK Deaf Sport, most recently in April 2007. Mr. Crowley expressed his disappointment at UK Sport's decision not to fund his organisation and asked that UK Sport review the decision.

Since we won the right to host the 2012 Olympic games, UK Sport has revised its strategy, and it is now primarily focused on supporting Olympic and Paralympic sports. However its World Class Pathway Programme does not discriminate against deaf athletes, and there are already some talented deaf athletes on the Pathway who will continue to receive the support they need to succeed at the very highest level.

In my reply to his letter, I suggested Mr. Crowley contact each of the Home Country Sports Councils to see if they would be prepared to fund UK Deaf Sport for the Deaflympics, and to obtain advice on alternative sources of potential funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding her Department (a) has given to UK Deaf Sport for the year 2007-08 and (b) gave for each of the last three years. (144975)

Through UK Sport the Department has funded the following amounts for UK Deaf Sport:

Additionally, UK Deaf Sport was awarded £75,000 for the period from 1 December 2003 to 31 March 2005 to support the GB team at the 2005 Deaflympics.