Sport: Funding

Debate between Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale

Tuesday 4th November 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, it is a great privilege to say that Sir John Major played an absolute blinder in ensuring that so many good causes have been supported over many years. The whole country benefits from that.

[Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Lab)]

My Lords, will the Minister welcome, on behalf of the Government, the announcement today that the Emirates Arena in Glasgow is to host the Davis Cup tie next spring between the UK and the USA? Does he agree that this is part of the legacy of the fantastic success of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, I very much congratulate all in Glasgow; indeed, £27 million of National Lottery money will be invested in the Golden Event Series for the period 2013 to 2019. That means that more than 70 events have already been secured, including world and European championships in Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Tourism

Debate between Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale

Tuesday 8th October 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, I certainly welcome what the noble Lord has said about the importance of the arts, not only to the domestic market but to many visitors from abroad. Museums and galleries are already doing a lot of work, as part of their China Ready programme, preparing for speakers of Mandarin and making sure that guides are in Chinese. So there is a lot going on in the arts sector.

[Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale (Lab)]

In relation to tourism and sports, I am sure that the Government will be aware of the fact that tomorrow at Buckingham Palace the Queen’s baton relay for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games begins its trail round all the countries of the Commonwealth and back to Glasgow next summer. Will the Minister not only congratulate those involved in reaching this important juncture but commit the UK Government to supporting the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council in making the most of that event next summer for tourism for Scotland and the whole of the UK?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, I could not endorse more strongly what the noble Lord has said. Not only will Buckingham Palace be a great venue for that but the venue for football yesterday shows that royal palaces get involved too, which is excellent. I think that all your Lordships would want to strongly support the success of the Commonwealth Games. They speak not only for the Commonwealth but for the sporting traditions of all those countries. I certainly wish the Games extremely well.

Devolved Administrations: Industrial Strategy

Debate between Lord Gardiner of Kimble and Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale

Wednesday 17th October 2012 Lords Chamber

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, as I said before, we will of course be sharing information with all devolved Administrations.

[Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale]

My Lords, are the Government aware that unemployment has gone up in Scotland today, while it has gone down elsewhere in the United Kingdom? Will the Government have immediate discussions with the Scottish Government to ensure that the uncertainty that will now exist in Scotland over the next two years as we lead up to the referendum on Scottish independence does not lead to higher unemployment in Scotland due to uncertainty over investment?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, there are regular discussions; and, in fact, there has been an increase in total employment of 54,000 people in Scotland since the general election.