To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the regulatory burdens facing voluntary sports clubs; and what steps they are taking to reduce them.

My Lords, sports clubs are integral to our Olympic legacy plans to develop a world-class community sports system. We have a good record in supporting them—for example, by introducing the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme and intervening, where possible, to ensure that regulation remains fair and proportionate. A recent example has been with water charging. Although we are never complacent, it was pleasing that a recent CCPR survey found that sports clubs were,

“thriving despite the economic downturn”.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. It is slightly rose-tinted, as the CCPR and Sport England are very concerned about the future of these clubs. There are currently many problems with regulation, not least the proposed withdrawal of the exemption for PPL licences and problems under the Licensing Act 2003. Above all, there are problems as regards the 2010 rating listing, which shows significant increases in rateable value, especially where improvements have been carried out. Added to the proposed withdrawal by some local authorities of discretionary rate relief, this could be disastrous. These clubs are the backbone of sporting activity in this country. What do the Government propose to do about it?

My Lords, sports clubs are local. The noble Lord identifies the withdrawal of discretionary rate relief but that is a local matter to be dealt with by local councils, as is their democratic right. We are concerned that this may have adverse effects on some sports clubs, but if they join the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme, to which I referred earlier, they may find some support there which takes account of the withdrawal of the relief.

My Lords, would the Minister agree that amateur sports clubs provide the main driving force for adult sporting activity in this country? Bearing that in mind, would the Government agree that it is not enough to say that local authorities should give them support but that there should be positive action from the Government to try to withdraw as many burdens as possible? People do not join a sports club to become the secretary of the organisation; they join to take part.

I agree with every sentiment the noble Lord expresses, except criticism of the Government. The noble Lord will know that through the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme, we have given enormous support from central resources to sports clubs, but sports clubs are local institutions dependent upon their local communities. Decisions taken locally have to be respected. I am sure the noble Lord is not suggesting that we should intervene across the whole of the country in every case where a sports club is in some difficulty. What we have got is a scheme that can give some help.

My Lords, is the Minister aware of the proportion of clubs that belong to the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme? If he does not have those figures to hand, I believe it is 3 per cent. That is not a high proportion of the 150,000 clubs in this country.

My Lords, that is because sport in this country has existed over a long period through voluntary effort and commitment and local understanding of the needs of sports clubs. Long may that situation reign. We have a scheme that offers help to those who may need specific relief in certain circumstances and additional funds, and that is how central government should respond.

My Lords, can I, through the Minister, congratulate the Foundation for Sport and the Arts on the assistance it gives to sports clubs up and down the country? It is notably illustrated by the fact that its smallest grant was £25, given to a village cricket club to fill in the rabbit holes on the boundary.

My Lords, we all know the threat that rabbit holes present to deep fielders on the boundary. I am grateful that it has been remedied in that case. The noble Lord is right to identify the extent to which sport in this country has benefited from lottery funds. We are concerned that we should build up sport in this country as a preparation for the Olympics and as a legacy thereafter.

If the Minister is so keen on improving sport in this country, rather than giving central assistance, could he consider removing some of the many impediments that sports clubs encounter? I declare an interest as chairman of the National Playing Fields Association.

My Lords, the noble Lord would do well to identify these impediments, and then I might indicate how the Government are tackling them. If one of the impediments is the threat from increased water charging, he will know that last year we intervened to ensure that clubs had some defence against it in areas where the costs were considered to be extravagantly high. He will also know that in the Flood and Water Management Bill we intend to continue those concessions for sports clubs.

My Lords, I declare an interest as a member of the board of the Foundation for Sport and the Arts. Is my noble friend aware that the funds that originally went into the Foundation for Sport and the Arts came from the football pools, not the lottery? However, that does not make the work of the Foundation for Sport and the Arts any less effectual, and I am sure my noble friend would agree that it does not alter the fact that funds from the lottery have made an enormous difference to sport in this country.

I am grateful to my noble friend for that correction. She has a long history with regard to these issues and has made a valuable contribution. We were aware that the initial support came from the football pools, but we all know why the National Lottery has had to supplant decreasing returns from the football pools.