To ask Her Majesty's Government what role they envisage for education and sport in tackling racial and homophobic hate propaganda; what resources are being made available to counter material contributing to prejudicial attitudes; and what specific community-led programmes and projects are to be prioritised for support. [HL5797]

Education and sport have a very important role to play in helping to tackle racial and homophobic hate propaganda. The Government's view is that there is no place for racism or homophobia in any aspect of our society, whether in the education system, the sporting world or the wider society.

Schools, sports partnerships, sports clubs and national governing bodies of sport are supported by the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England to help ensure that their programmes and provision are totally inclusive and free from all bias and prejudice in this respect.

For example, the terms and conditions for county sports partnerships require that they operate fair procedures in relation to any individuals and that they should not exclude anyone from participation on the grounds of race, religion, colour, sex (except where the programme relates to participants of one gender only, for example, women's football), occupation, disability or political persuasion.

The sports plans of national governing bodies (NGBs) of sport are scrutinised by Sport England's equality officers to ensure that there is appropriate reference and emphasis on equality. For example, NGBs are required to include an equality/inclusion statement in their constitution, by-laws or official handbook and must ensure equal access to participation.

More specifically, “Let's Kick Racism out of Football” and “Show Racism the Red Card” are two community programmes run by the Football Association and the Football Foundation which use the powerful image of football, clubs and players to tackle racism head on and to present an anti-racist message to young people and others.

In partnership with the Youth Sport Trust and Sport England, the Government have introduced two athlete mentor programmes. The Respect Athlete Mentor Programme (RAMP) and the Changing Lives Scheme each uses elite sports men and women as role models to engage with young people from disaffected backgrounds and to provide a positive influence. Athletes are selected from a wide range of contrasting backgrounds and demonstrate how they have had to overcome significant challenges such as bullying, dyslexia, exclusion or disability on their way to sporting success.

The British Council's International Inspirations programme is dedicated to improving cultural relations with other countries and is creating lasting opportunities for children and young people of all abilities in schools and communities across the world, particularly in developing countries. The programme encourages an international dimension in school development planning to raise whole school standards and achievement and explores issues such as cultural diversity, inclusion, religion, ethics, global communication and the Olympic and Paralympic values.

The national strategy for PE and sport was introduced in 2003 and has increased the percentage of 5 to 16 year-olds taking part in at least two hours’ high-quality PE and sport each week from 62 per cent in 2003-04 to 90 per cent in 2007-08. We are building on this success and now want all 5 to 16 year-olds to have access to five hours of PE and sport per week whatever their ability or circumstances, with three hours for 16 to 19 year-olds. In delivering on our targets, the Government will continue to work to promote inclusion throughout the education and sporting worlds and will seek to ensure that we do not become complacent in this respect.