GOVERNMENT FAILING TO ENCOURAGE GIRLS PARTICIPATION IN SPORT - BURT

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 28th Jan 2008

Lorely Burt MP today accused Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe MP of failing to deliver on government targets for increasing the number of women participating in sport

Speaking on the floor of the House of Commons, Mrs Burt said:

"Does the Minister not share my concern that there are still a million children not participating in 2hrs of sport a week and that his own departments most recent figures showed the government are failing to meet their targets for increasing the number of women participating in sport.

"Will the Minister explain to the House what steps the government is taking to ensure activities that young girls do want to participate in, such as dance, receive the support they so urgently need."

Gerry Sutcliffe MP said that the Government was keen to broaden the offer for young women to include more opportunities for dance and other creative activities, and hoped that the announcement to introduce loose fitting PE kit for girls in school would encourage more to participate.