Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage local stakeholders to invest in sport.

This Government is committed to the sporting industry. I am pleased that Sport England always seeks to leverage in support from local stakeholders where possible. To encourage local investment in sport, Sport England has produced a range of tools which not only demonstrate the economic and social value of sport for local communities, but also the health benefits of physical activity. This data and insight, which shows that sport offers a good return on investment for local communities, is shared with local authorities and other potential investors. Sport England also encourages applicants to its National Lottery award programmes to seek matched funding from local stakeholders such as local authorities, educational institutions, local businesses and sports clubs.