Crouch to get more people participating in sport

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch has today launched a wide-ranging public consultation on sport in the UK. The government wants to hear from interested groups and the public - people who are involved in sport and people who aren’t - on what more can be done to use sport to help improve many more lives. On top of the health benefits from participating, sport brings people together, contributes billions to the economy every year and enhances Britain’s reputation on the world stage.

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said: "Sport has such a positive impact on people’s lives and I want to embed participation into this nation’s DNA. I want to make sure that the sports sector gives everybody - no matter who they are and what their ability - the chance to take part. However public funding is a privilege not a right and has to go to the organisations that can make a real difference. I want to hear views from people and groups on what more we can do to strengthen sport in this country across the board."

The Sports Minister is also keen that Britain continues to enjoy elite success following a great three years post London 2012.

"Britain has punched above its weight in elite sport in recent years with fantastic results but we can not be complacent. I want sport to do all it can to bring on the next generation of talent so that the nation continues to enjoy success and inspirational performances." Ms Crouch added.

London 2012 was an incredible success and a high point for British sport. It showed that the UK has an elite sport system to rival any nation in the world after the incredible record medal haul from Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes. It also inspired many to get out there and give sport a go, with 1.4 million more people participating now than when the bid to host the Games was won in 2005.

However the government say there are challenges to address to help further improve sport in this country. Sports participation figures have declined recently and the government wants to ensure that public funding is targeted at those organisations who can deliver in encouraging people to get involved in sport and physical activity. The consultation sets out 10 broad themes that the government wants to engage with the public on. The themes are as follows:

• Participation 
• Physical Activity 
• Children and Young People 
• Financial Sustainability Coaching, 
• Workforce and Good Governance 
• Elite and Professional Sport 
• Infrastructure Fairness and Equality 
• Safety and Wellbeing 
• International Influence 
• Major Sporting Events

The public consultation will run for just under nine weeks, from 4 August until Friday October 2. It marks the start of the government working on a new strategy for sport in this country.

Government urged discuss City Link with MPs, unions and administrators

The announcement on Christmas Day that City Link business has gone into administration will affect thousands employees and thousands of the Company’s customers. Ashford MP Damian Green and Chatham and Aylesford MP Tracey Crouch have said they're "appalled" by the way the announcement was made and the timing, both constituencies have City Link depots in them, leaving employees facing immediate redundancy in the New Year. The two MPs are calling for urgent discussions with ministers.

Commenting Tracey Crouch said: "The manner in which employees have been treated in this process is utterly appalling. The least they deserve now is the best possible redundancy terms and support from the Government where possible".

Also commenting Damian Green said: “The whole business has been handled very badly, and I will be trying to ensure something is salvaged, for the sake of the employees”.

The TUC is also calling on the Secretary of State for Business, Investment and Skills, Dr Vince Cable, to urgently meet with trade union representatives of City Link workers who are at risk of losing their jobs and not receiving proper redundancy payments.

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The fast-track sackings at City Link are a prime example of the unacceptable face of casualised Britain, with workers denied even basic rights to proper consultation. "ut there is nothing inevitable about this company going bust. Too many employers are using insolvency to take the money and run, leaving the taxpayer to foot the redundancy bill.

"The Government must get a grip and reverse the changes in the law they introduced to make sacking workers in Britain so cheap and easy. Vince Cable should urgently meet with the union and administrators to explore alternatives before it's too late.” Ms O'Grady added..