To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to encourage more school students to participate in competitive sport; and what plans he has to take steps further to improve the rate. (173254)

Increasing inter and intra-school sporting opportunities is a key component of the national school sport strategy, which is delivered jointly by the Department for Children Schools and Families and the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

The 2006-07 school sport survey showed that:

98 per cent. of schools held a competitive sports day,

58 per cent. of pupils were involved in intra-school competition, and

35 per cent. of all pupils were involved in inter-school competition.

Earlier this year the Prime Minister announced extra funding to extend the number of competition managers to at least 225 by the beginning of 2009. Competition managers are creating a stronger framework for competitive sport and working across primary and secondary schools to increase the amount of competitive sport they offer.

In addition we are introducing a new national school sport week, championed by Dame Kelly Holmes, to encourage all schools to run sports days and tournaments. This will build on the success of the UK School Games and its impact on motivating young people to take part in competitive sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps the Government has taken to assist schools increasing participation in extra-curricular sports. (174160)

[holding answer 18 December 2007]: The Departments for Culture, Media and Sport, and Children, Schools and Families, are working together to deliver the National School Sport Strategy. The strategy’s current aim is to increase the percentage of five to 16-year-olds participating in at least two hours a week of high quality PE and sport at school and, from 2008/09, the percentage of five to 19-year-olds participating in at least three further hours a week of sporting opportunities, in and out of school.