Culture Media and Sport written question – answered at on 25 June 2003.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people participate in rural sport and recreation in England; and if she will make a statement on (a) the value of rural sport and recreation to rural tourism in England, (b) the value of rural sport and recreation to the rural economy in England and (c) the value of Sport England's grant aid to rural sport and recreation.
The General Household Survey for 1996 measured the percentage of the population which participated in sporting activity in a natural setting which is defined as in the countryside, on rivers or lakes or at the seaside. The survey showed that:
20 per cent. of men, 9 per cent. of women and 14 per cent. of all adults had participated in sport in one of these locations in the past four weeks.
51 per cent. of young people (6–16) had participated in sport in one of these locations in the past year.
6 per cent. of ethnic minority groups had participated in one of these locations in the previous four weeks.
35 per cent. of young people with a disability had participated in one of these locations in the previous year.
No specific studies have been undertaken on the value of rural sport and recreation to rural tourism or the rural economy in England. However, I understand that the Countryside Agency is considering a proposal to undertake a study on the economic aspects of recreation in the countryside. Data from the Great Britain Day Visit Survey 2002/03 indicates that of day trips made to the countryside 40.5 per cent. were for the purpose of physical activity, including walking and cycling.
Sport England has allocated the following funding to rural sports in 2002–03:
Lottery | Exchequer | |
---|---|---|
Angling | — | 128,000 |
Caving | — | 5,000 |
Equestrian | 359,182 | 46,000 |
Gliding | 95,634 | — |
Mountaineering | 45,000 | 65,000 |
Orienteering | — | 90,000 |
Sailing and yachting | 1,514,813 | 137,000 |
Surfing | — | 9,000 |
Water skiing | — | 38,000 |
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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