PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Sports: Finance (24 July 2018)

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with UK Sport on the future sustainability of sports which do not currently receive any funding.

Asked by:
Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (Labour)

I discuss the financial sustainability of sport regularly with UK Sport and other stakeholders: Sport in this country is supported through a mix of exchequer, lottery, commercial, membership-driven and other funding.

UK Sport is committed to ensuring that the impact of its decisions on athletes, staff and sports are carefully and sensitively managed, and will work closely with all sports who, following recent investment decisions, will no longer be in receipt of investment on an appropriate transition plan for athletes and staff. Most recently for the Beijing 2022 investment decisions, UK Sport have made a transition fund of circa £1.5 million available and plans for each sport to access this will be developed in partnership with the relevant home country sports institute.

UK Sport reviews its in-cycle funding decisions every year, as part of its annual reporting requirements. This means that the door remains open to sports where they can demonstrate increased medal potential. UK Sport's Medal Support Plan invests in athletes in otherwise unfunded sports who have had significant and consistent world level success. UK Sport's consultation on their future investment principles post-Tokyo 2020 will engage with stakeholders and the wider public. Sport England lottery and exchequer investment to support grassroots sport and talent remains unaffected by funding decisions made by UK Sport.

Answered by:
Dame Tracey Crouch (Conservative)
5 September 2018