Labour’s Shadow Children’s Minister and Newcastle North MP, Catherine McKinnell will tomorrow (13 December 2011) address Parliament as schools come to terms with cuts of over £162m to a major funding-stream for school sports.

Labour’s Shadow Children’s Minister, Catherine McKinnell MP said:

“This Tory-led Government’s position on funding for school sports deserves a red card.

“School Sports Partnerships were meant to ensure the delivery of a key plank of our Olympic legacy – transforming a generation of young people through sport. As Olympic hosts we should be leading the world in school sports, not putting at risk the health and wellbeing of our children.

“It leaves the UK at risk of an own goal: by putting short-term interests first, we will fail to realise the long-term savings and benefits of school sports.

“It is no wonder that recent figures from Sport England showed a drop in the number of 16-19 year olds playing sport.

“School Sports Partnerships had a great track record of increasing the number of young people taking part in 2 hours a week in sport from 44% in 2003 to 90% in 2009. Without the coordination that SSPs provided, schools have been left to fend for themselves.

“In this Westminster Hall debate, I’ll be asking about the impacts of these cuts and demanding assurances from the Department of Education about how they will protect opportunities for young people to participate in sport.

“It is not too late for Michael Gove and his ministerial colleagues to change their minds and protect our Olympic legacy.”