Many Government departments impact on the development of
sport and recreation. Devolution of Scotland and Wales took place on 1st
July 1999
and it has changed the responsibilities for which Ministers account to the
UK Parliament. This has changed the way in which responsibilities are now
divided between the UK Government, the Scottish Executive and the National
Assembly for Wales. The offices for the Scottish and Wales Offices in
London which dealt with those areas which have not been devolved have now
had those responsibilities transferred to the new Department of Constitutional
Affairs, and a detailed account can be found in the House of Commons Library
Research Paper 99/84 Devolution and Concordats
(available at www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp99.htm).
The Scottish Executive and the National Assembly for Wales publish information on the allocation of responsibilities
between Scottish Ministers and Assembly Secretaries on their websites at
www.scotland.gov.uk and www.wales.org.uk, and
for Northern Ireland www.ni.assembly.gov.uk.
While it is recognised that sport and recreation are Governmental
functions devolved to the home country administrations, the need to co-ordinate
aspects of policy and investment at UK level does need to be recognised.
This need is glaringly obvious with regard to UK participation in international sports
competition; and in bidding for mega-events like the Olympics, which require
Government support and commitment. There are also several issues for which
there is absolute need for UK-wide policy and implementation, for example
parity in fiscal policy relating to taxation, rates/council charges and
charitable status; harmony of vocational qualifications, to support the
employment opportunities of UK sports professionals (players, coaches, leaders,
officials and administrators) in EU countries and to sustain professional
standards; and parity in access to the countryside, especially for activities
which depend on access to open space and water. Devolution could lead to
tensions between the Home Country Sports Councils, with no strategic lead
body. UK Sport's role could be to co-ordinate a national sport strategy,
though this would need support from a dedicated Sports Ministry with power
and influence to ensure that the strategy is implemented.
Sensible development of sport and recreation is hampered
by the number of Government departments whose policies, various NDPBs and
Executive Agencies and decisions impact upon sport and recreation. A new
UK Sport and Recreation Act has been proposed to
resolve the current confusions in the organisation of sport. CCPR suggests
a review of the nature and range of influence, and consideration of how
their impact could be rationalised and co-ordinated more effectively. Policies
- different Government departments - affecting fiscal, environmental, educational,
public sector, regional and local Government and cultural areas of activity
all impact upon sport, as does the emerging policy on voluntary sector sport
and development. Government's role in sport and recreation should enable
the governing bodies and their clubs to play a key role. The principle of
"joined-up Government" does need to be applied for sport and recreation.
Department of Culture, Media & Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH
www.culture.gov.uk
Department for Education & Skills
Sanctuary Buildings
Great Smith Street
London SW1P 3BT
www.dfes.gov.uk
Ministry of Defence
Old War Office Buildings
Whitehall
London SW1A 2EU
www.mod.uk
Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
www.defra.gov.uk
Department of Health
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NS
www.doh.gov.uk
Home Office
50 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AT
www.homeoffice.gov.uk
Department for International Development
94 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6JP
www.culture.gov.uk
Lord Chancellor's Department
House of Lords Constitutional Affairs
London SW1A 0PW
www.led.gov.uk
Northern Ireland Office
11 Millbank
London SW1P 4PN
Castle Buildings
Stormont
Belfast BT4 3SG
www.nio.gov.uk
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Dover House
70 Whitehall
London SW1A 2AV
Department of Trade & Industry
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
www.dti.gov.uk
Department for Transport, Local Government & the Regions
Eland House
Bressenden Place
London SW1E 5DU
www.dtlr.gov.uk
HM Treasury
Treasury Chambers
Parliament Street
London SW1P 3AG
www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
Department for Work & Pensions
Richmond House
79 Whitehall
London SW1A 2NS
www.dwp.gov.uk
ISLE OF MAN
The Isle of Man makes its own arrangements for sport and recreation,
and has entry to the Commonwealth Games, but is part of Britain for the Olympic Games. The Isle is
a self-governing Crown Dependency, having its own parliamentary, legal and
administrative system. The British Government is responsible for international
relations and defence.
CHANNEL ISLANDS
Like the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands make their own arrangements for sport and recreation,
and have entry to the Commonwealth Games, but are part of Britain for the Olympic Games. The Islands are Crown Dependencies with their
own legislative assemblies (the States in Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney, and the Court of Chief Pleas in
Sark) and systems of local administration
and of law, and their own courts. Acts passed by the States require the
sanction of the Queen - in Council. The British Government is responsible
for international relations and defence.
Government offices for
the regions
The Government Offices for the Regions were established in
1994 through the amalgamation of the Regional Offices of the Departments
of Trade & Industry, Environment & Transport, and Education &
Employment. The Government Offices now carry out work on behalf of a range
of sponsor departments, including DTLR, DEFRA, DTI, HO, DfES and DCMS.
Regional Co-ordination Unit
Room 10.01
Riverwalk House
157-161 Millbank
London SW1P 4RR
Government Office for
the North East
Wellbar House
Gallowgate
Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 4TD
Government Office for
the North West
2010 Sunley Tower
Piccadilly Plaza
Manchester M1 4BA
Government Office for
Yorkshire & The Humber
7th Floor
East Wing
City House
New Station Street
Leeds LS1 4US
Government Office for
the West Midlands
77 Paradise Circus
Queensway
Birmingham B1 2DT
Government Office for
the East Midlands
Government Office for
the East of England
Building A
Westbrook Centre
Milton Road
Cambridge CB4 1YG
Government Office for
the South East
Bridge House
1 Walnut Tree Grove
Guildford
Surrey GU1 4GA
Government Office for
the South West
The Pithay
Bristol BS1 2PB
Government Office for
London
Riverwalk House
157-161 Millbank
London SW1P 3EB
EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
There are 90 Agencies, of which the following could be of
interest for leisure and recreation:
Central Office of Information
Hercules House
Hercules Road
London SE1 7DU
Tel: 020 7928 2345
The Responsible Minister is the Deputy Prime Minister
Meteorological Office
London Road
Bracknell
Berkshire RG12 2SZ
Tel: 01344 854600
Office for National
Statistics - This is a Government Department
1 Drummond Gate
London SW1V 2QQ
Tel: 020 7533 6207
Ordnance Survey - This
is a separate Government Department
Romsey Road
Maybush
Southampton SO16 4GU
Tel: 023 8079 2000
www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
UK Passport Service
Glebe House
Belgrave Road
London SW1
Tel: 020 7271 8505
Planning Inspectorate
The Planning
Inspectorate handles appeals against the decisions of local authorities
on planning applications, and appeals against local authority enforcement
notices
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6PN
Tel: 0117 372 8963
www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk
Public Record Office
This is a Government Department which is responsible for the maintenance
and preservation of the public records and for the provision of public access
to consult them
Ruskin Avenue
Kew
Richmond
Surrey TW9 4DU
Tel: 020 8876 3444
www.pro.gov.uk
Royal Parks Agency
The Agency manages and polices the
eight Royal Parks in London and provides a variety of services,
including sports & cultural and education programmes.
The Old Police House
Hyde Park
London W2 2UH
Tel: 020 7298 2000
www.royalparks.co.uk
