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In the light of the announcement by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Mr Purnell, on 27 November about shifting priorities from encouraging participation in sport towards promoting

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sporting excellence, how they will ensure the protection of the promotion of physical fitness through activities which will no longer be regarded as sport and which will not in future be within the remit of Sport England; and who will be responsible for providing funding for these activities. [HL825]

Lord Davies of Oldham: On 28 November, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced that Sport England’s new focus would be to build a world-class community sport infrastructure.

The Government want to build a high-quality community sport infrastructure in order to sustain and increase participation in sport from the grass

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roots up and to allow people of all abilities the opportunity to develop their sporting talents and fulfil their potential.

Sport England is developing a new strategy setting out how it will focus more clearly on the delivery of sport. In order to maintain the seamless delivery of wider physical activity, Her Majesty’s Treasury is leading the development of a cross-government physical activity strategy for all.

The two new strategies, for Sport England and for physical activity, will provide absolute clarity on the roles and funding responsibilities for all the different organisations to meet the Government’s aim of 2 million more people being more active by 2012.

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