Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that funding allocated from the public purse to sporting bodies throughout the UK is spent by those bodies in a (a) legal, (b) non-discriminating and (c) non-political manner.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Government's Arms Length Bodies (ALBs), including the four DCMS Sport ALBs (Sport England, UK Sport, the Sports Ground Safety Authority and UK Anti-Doping), have to comply with the Treasury's publication Managing Public Money. They are also subject to various other spending controls which set out how they should allocate and govern their funding. ALBs are audited annually to ensure that they are complying with these controls.
When allocating funding, ALBs must also comply with relevant equality legislation.
Government's Sporting Future strategy sets out the principles and priorities by which sport bodies should invest their funding. Furthermore, A Code for Sports Governance was published in October 2016 and sets out the levels of transparency, accountability, diversity and financial integrity required from all organisations that receive Government and National Lottery investment.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure that the Northern Ireland Boxing Association are included as a constituent part of GB Boxing; and what support the Government can provide for the Northern Ireland Boxing Association's application to join The International Boxing Association.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
I refer the Honourable Member to my response to PQ 179240 on 18th October.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support boxers from Northern Ireland in representing boxing for (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the UK.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Athletes in Northern Ireland have the choice as to whether they wish to represent the UK or Ireland in their given sport. However, at times this will be subject to the overarching rules applied by the individual Governing bodies of the sport. Eligibility and selection for international competition remain matters for the relevant sports authorities.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance he provides to Sport GB on national representation relating to obligations under the Good Friday Agreement.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Sporting matters are devolved, and eligibility and selection for international competition remain matters for the relevant sports authorities. However, sporting organisations have an important role to play in contributing to inclusion in Northern Ireland and across the United Kingdom. The people of Northern Ireland have a proud history of sporting achievements gained while representing both the United Kingdom and Ireland.
As outlined in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, both the UK Government and UK Sport recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland. This right extends to athletes from Northern Ireland having the choice to represent Team GB or Ireland at a national level in their given sport should they wish to do so. At times this will be subject to the overarching rules applied by the individual Governing bodies of the sport.
Asked by: Gavin Robinson (Democratic Unionist Party - Belfast East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he recognises the Northern Ireland Boxing Association; and whether he supports that association's full participation in boxing throughout the UK.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Recognition of sport governing bodies is a matter for the sports councils. Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales, Sport Northern Ireland and UK Sport work collectively to determine recognition. I understand the process for potential recognition for the Northern Ireland Boxing Association has been affected by the current situation with the Stormont government. Sport is devolved and this is a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities.