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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the cost of participation in sports, and of the impact of such cost on the rates of participation of young people in sports.

Government remains committed to supporting young people’s participation in sport and to ensuring that they can access sporting opportunities, regardless of their background. Sport England research shows that the most frequently stated reasons for young people doing more or less sport is not necessarily cost, but actually whether the ‘offer’ is right, injury/illness and also time-related pressures. Government is committed to ensuring that barriers to participation are broken down. Between 2012 and 2017 Sport England is investing almost £450 million to get more young people playing sport, with a focus on making sure that sport is delivered at the right place, at the right time and in the right style.