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3.6 Deputy R.J. Rondel of St. Helier of the Minister for Education, Sport and Culture regarding the amount of public money budgeted to fund the Jersey Sports Foundation for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017:
Would the Minister inform the Assembly how much public money has been budgeted to fund the Jersey Sports Foundation for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017?
Deputy P.J.D. Ryan of St. John (The Minister for Education, Sport and Culture):
Under section 4 of the new sports strategy Fit for the Future, funding has been identified to support high performance sport with £50,000 in 2014 and £50,000 in 2015. Just to repeat, under section 4 of the Fit for the Future new sports strategy.
The Bailiff :
I am not sure you need to repeat it, Minister.
- Deputy R.J. Rondel:
Could he advise Members whether that includes some salaries for the set up and salaries involved in the Sports Foundation?
The Deputy of St. John :
The new Jersey Sports Foundation is an independent foundation in order to support high performance athletes. As part of their structure they will need a specialist sports development/high performance coach, so part of the money that we are putting into this new Jersey Sports Foundation will be used but there will also be many other peripheral costs included in the overall package.
- Senator S.C. Ferguson:
How much is going to come out of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for 2016 and 2017 because the foundation is not going to do much with only £50,000 a year?
The Deputy of St. John :
I cannot answer that. That will be up to the States when they debate the next Medium-Term Financial Plan.
- Senator S.C. Ferguson:
How much is his department putting in the budget to ask for in the Medium-Term Financial Plan?
The Deputy of St. John :
I think the department is intending to put in bids in the next Medium-Term Financial Plan in line with the sports strategy and, as I have already said, this particular item is carried in the sports strategy.
[10:15]
Senator S.C. Ferguson:
The Minister has not answered the question. Deputy G.P. Southern :
He does not know.
Senator S.C. Ferguson:
I just asked for a simple number.
The Deputy of St. John :
I cannot give you that answer yet because we have not finalised our growth bids.
- Connétable P.J. Rondel of St. John :
Of the £50,000 what percentage is going towards the funding of the coach, please? The Deputy of St. John :
This is an independent sports foundation being set up, as is in the sports strategy by the One Foundation. But what I can say is this: I think we should be very grateful as an Island for foundations such as the One Foundation and I know that there will be a considerable amount of extra funds coming from the private sector in order to support sport in this particular ...
The Connétable of St. John : Please answer the question. The Deputy of St. John :
I am not in a position to answer the question. This is an independent foundation set up by the Sports Foundation. We are providing seed grant funding of £50,000 per annum in this current Medium-Term Financial Plan, and that has come from the extra monies that were identified for sport development, which I am very grateful for, and the next Medium-Term Financial Plan we will have to see exactly what that is.
- The Connétable of St. John :
Given that the Minister cannot identify money that is being spent, it is taxpayers' money, how it is going to be spent, would the Minister consider withdrawing this grant until he can come back with the correct figures for us?
The Deputy of St. John :
No, I will not.
- Senator L.J. Farnham :
While recognising the excellent work that the One Foundation and the support that the Minister's department is giving them, I just point out there are a number of talented sportsmen and women who are trying to break into the professional ranks. Why is it for many of them they are finding it very difficult to get funding?
The Deputy of St. John :
I know that that is a concern and it is also a concern of ours, and that is why we have come forward with a new sports strategy and we are trying to address those very concerns.
- Deputy R.J. Rondel:
I am still not clear as to what exactly the £50,000 in 2014 and 2015 is to be used from. Could he elaborate on that please?
The Deputy of St. John :
The £50,000 in the 2 years is a grant to a sports foundation, the new Sports Foundation, specifically to support high performance athletes of all natures. It could be right across the whole range of sporting activity in the Island, from swimming right through to athletics, through to anything that you might think of. As I say, I can only really congratulate and thank the One Foundation for the kind of work that they are doing. I think we should all be exactly the same. [Approbation]
The Bailiff :
Just before we come to the next question. I have had reaction from 2 Members expressing surprise that I have not been able to allow them to ask questions. The Chair has to strike a balance between the number of questions which are there, and Members need to try and get through as many as possible in the need to explore matters fully. So I am sorry if Members get disappointed but the Chair has to do what he can to strike a balance.
The Connétable of St. John :
It would help if the people answering the questions gave an answer, Sir. [Laughter] The Bailiff :
I am sure that would be very helpful.