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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department is taking step to use the career of Sir Andy Murray to encourage more people to play tennis.

I am delighted to take this opportunity to wish Sir Andy Murray well in his retirement. He has contributed a huge amount to British sport throughout his long career, both on and off the court.

The Government is committed to improving access to sports and physical activity for all people, in all places so they can lead richer, more dignified lives. Sport and physical activity is central to achieving our health and opportunity manifesto missions, with the biggest gains coming from supporting those who are inactive to move more.

Sport and physical activity in England is funded through our Arm’s Length Bodies, UK Sport (for elite sport) and Sport England (for grassroots) who provide onward funding to relevant organisations such as Active Partnerships and National Governing Bodies (NGBs).

The Government provides the majority of support for grassroots sport through Sport England - which annually invests over £250 million in Exchequer and Lottery funding. Sport England’s work focuses on bringing the health and sport sectors together at community level and to champion physical activity with local leaders to develop interventions tailored to communities.

Sport England provides long term investment to The Lawn Tennis Association, which receives up to £10.2 million for five years to invest in community tennis initiatives.

Decisions with regards to future departmental budgets will be made as part of the spending review process.