Clause 6
Education and Inspections Bill
5:30 pm
Nick Gibb (Shadow Minister (Schools), Education; Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, Conservative)
I pay tribute to my hon. Friend’s dogged tenacity in extracting those important figures from the Under-Secretary; they reveal that there is a problem. Even in the partnership schools, a large proportion of pupils—the Under-Secretary said 31 per cent.—are not getting two hours a week or more of high-quality PE or games. We have a problem that we need to address together, as a Government and as a Parliament.
The debate has been interesting. The hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough, is right that the duty does not necessarily require local authorities to provide the recreation facilities themselves; they can commission the voluntary and private sectors and other bodies to provide those facilities. It was refreshing and encouraging to hear that from a Labour Member, and even more so to hear it from her. I think that the Committee is reaching consensus on some important points of principle.
I am grateful for the Under-Secretary’s full and informative response. He pointed out that 70 per cent. of young people believe that lack of provision leads to antisocial behaviour and crime. Again, there is consensus in the Committee on that point, which was first raised by the hon. Member for Bury, North. I think that the Under-Secretary confirmed my understanding that the funding for the new duty comes principally from the youth opportunity fund, although he also mentioned local area agreements and other sources of funding to which local authorities have access. From what he said, however, I understand that the fund is the principal source of funding. That was a helpful note of confirmation.