The Government are committed to reducing administrative burdens that may hinder any type of volunteering. Following the report of the independent Commission on the Future of Volunteering, we will produce guidance to help us reduce unnecessary Criminal Records Bureau checks, including in sport. Sport England is also running specific programmes to reduce the administrative burden on sports volunteering.
I am sure that my right hon. Friend will want to congratulate the 5 million people who volunteer in sport on a monthly basis, including Nina Walker, from my constituency, who recently won the BBC unsung sporting heroes award. However, will he ensure that his Department plays a lead role in ensuring that the unintended consequences of worthwhile legislation, such as CRB checks, do not impact on the sporting sector? For example, the points system for migration might lead to sports clubs having to sponsor international visiting teams. Will he play a lead role in ensuring that good policies do not impact unnecessarily on sport?
Let me pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s constituent who, after that question, is more of a sung than an unsung hero. My hon. Friend is right to pinpoint unintended consequences as an issue, but people sometimes get an impression about legislation that turns out not to be correct. That is why I said in my answer that we need to give people proper guidance about the CRB checks so that they know when they are needed. We shall be very much involved in that process.