Written Question · S2W-13342 · Session 2
Whether it supports the provision of a new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey; whether it will provide assistance to sports centres in rura…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the provision of a new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey; whether it will provide assistance to sports centres in rural parts of Scotland; what arrangements it makes regarding access for children to sports centres, and whether there is a national policy on access for children to sports centres to ensure that as many children as possible participate in outdoor activities.
The answer
The Executive fully supports the development of the new sports centre for Grantown-on-Spey and is delighted that the project has been awarded funding of £300,000 from sportscotland’s lottery-funded Building for Sport programme.
Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure adequate provision of sport and leisure facilities for their residents. As in the case of the sports centre in Grantown-on-Spey, funding may be available from sportscotland through the Building for Sport programme. Applications are assessed by sportscotland against set criteria for the programme and ministers have no role to play in considering individual applications.
With regard to access for children to sports centres, many local authorities already have strategies in place to encourage increased access. However, this is an issue which has been identified as important in achieving targets 1 and 2 of Sport 21. The strategy to deliver these targets is seeking to create or amend existing discount schemes and also consider the provision of transport subsidies to ensure that potential barriers are removed which restricts access to sports facilities and participation in sports programmes.
Local authorities have a statutory responsibility to ensure adequate provision of sport and leisure facilities for their residents. As in the case of the sports centre in Grantown-on-Spey, funding may be available from sportscotland through the Building for Sport programme. Applications are assessed by sportscotland against set criteria for the programme and ministers have no role to play in considering individual applications.
With regard to access for children to sports centres, many local authorities already have strategies in place to encourage increased access. However, this is an issue which has been identified as important in achieving targets 1 and 2 of Sport 21. The strategy to deliver these targets is seeking to create or amend existing discount schemes and also consider the provision of transport subsidies to ensure that potential barriers are removed which restricts access to sports facilities and participation in sports programmes.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-13342 by reference.