Rural Sport and Recreation

Culture Media and Sport written question – answered at on 25 June 2003.

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Photo of Kate Hoey Kate Hoey Labour, Vauxhall

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.

Photo of Richard Caborn Richard Caborn Minister of State (Sport and Tourism), Department for Culture, Media & Sport

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

Does this answer the above question?

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No0 people think not

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