asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 21 November 2006 (WA 3) on training places allocated for physical education teachers in England, what is their assessment of the extent to which the Chancellor of the Exchequer's proposal of 24 October 2006 that the number of curriculum hours allocated to sport for all United Kingdom school children will increase to at least four hours per week by 2010 is achievable.[HL1448]
The Government announced their long-term ambition for PE and school sport in December 2004. The main aim is that, by 2010, all children will be offered at least four hours of sport a week. This will comprise two hours of high-quality PE and sport at school, and the opportunity for at least a further two to three hours beyond the school day, delivered by a range of school, community and club providers.
This ambition will be delivered through the network of school sport partnerships set up as part of the national Physical Education, School Sport and Club Links strategy. Further details of the delivery of this ambition will be announced following the outcome of the next Comprehensive Spending Review.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What evidence they have to support the statement by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Support to the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport on 21 November 2006 that two-thirds of primary school children in this country will be expecting to take part in the Olympic Games and half of them are expecting to be medal winners; and whether there is adequate access to coaching and facilities in British schools in order to achieve these aspirations.[HL1449]
The statement made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to the House of Commons Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport on 21 November was based on her experience of visiting primary schools up and down the country. The joint DfES/DCMS national strategy for PE and school sport is already addressing the aspirations of young people regarding the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Government are investing heavily to provide adequate access to coaching and sports facilities in schools. Between 2003-04 and 2007-08, the Departments for Culture, Media and Sport and for Education and Skills will have invested £70 million in sports coaching.
The Building Schools for the Future programme, which aims to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school over the next 15 years, and the Primary Capital Programme starting in 2008, both provide funding to build well designed PE and sport facilities where they are needed.