Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 March 1997. It was answered by Iain Sproat (Conservative) on Wednesday, 5 March 1997 on behalf of the Department of National Heritage.

Dept of National Heritage

Question: What plans her Department has to aid universities and colleges in implementing the recommendations of the Bannister Committee's report into university sports scholarships. - (Holding answer 26 February 1997).

Answer: Mr. Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans her Department has to aid universities and colleges in implementing the recommendations of the Bannister committee's report into university sports scholarships. [17408] Mr. Sproat: [holding answer 26 February 1997]: The Bannister committee's report highlights examples of best practice and sets out guidelines for the operation of university sports scholarship schemes. I fully back that guidance and hope further and higher education institutions will follow it. The results will undoubtedly benefit both the institutions and their sports scholars. Over the post two years, further and higher education institutions across the United Kingdom have benefited substantially from lottery grants for upgrading existing sports facilities and for building new ones. Under the lottery-funded world class performance programme, applications for the funding of individual athletes must be made through the national governing bodies of sport. Where an eligible athlete is also a student, part of the grant awarded to that athlete may be used to offset all or part of the student's study costs. The first awards under the world class performance programme will be made shortly.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 17408; 291 c624W
Session: 1996-97
Subjects: Higher education Facilities Physical education Universities Young people Sports Students Scholarships