Water Sports

Oral Answers to Questions — Wales – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 11 December 1989.

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Photo of Michael Jack Michael Jack , Fylde 12:00, 11 December 1989

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what support he is giving to the development of water sports in Wales.

Photo of Mr Ian Grist Mr Ian Grist , Cardiff Central

Welsh Office financial support for bodies concerned with the development of water sports in Wales is provided through the Sports Council for Wales which grant aids the relevant governing bodies and provides a national watersports centre at Plas Menai.

Photo of Michael Jack Michael Jack , Fylde

My hon. Friend will be aware of the excellent facilities for the promotion of water sports at the national watersports centre at Plas Menai. May I prevail on him to send a message to those concerned to look again at the financial arrangements for this excellent institution, which is used by many of my constituents and people from the north-west of England, and ensure that they have sufficient funding next year fully to exploit commercially the potential of this institution?

Photo of Mr Ian Grist Mr Ian Grist , Cardiff Central

The attachment of my hon. Friend and his family to Plas Menai is well known to us. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the Sports Council for Wales received a grant in the current year of some £4,396,000, an increase of 6·1 per cent. over its previous grant. The council has been looking for some time at the financing of the centre at Plas Menai and the efficiency with which it carries out its work. At all times, it is looking for sponsorship and other forms of support for those sports that are not big money raisers.