Political Comparison Made Easy

ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION IN SPORT

We want to make the Glasgow Commonwealth Games a great success. We will use the Games to encourage greater participation in sport across all age groups, and focus on leaving a lasting legacy of sporting facilities for after 2014.

We believe extra-curricular activities are an invaluable part of any child's education. In particular, we believe there should be more opportunities for school sport and outdoor education. We will set up a charitable trust fund, into which we will commit an initial £2m, which will have the specific aim of giving all pupils the opportunity of receiving one full week of residential outdoor education at least once between the ages of 11 and 15, and more opportunities to participate in grassroots sport.

Finally, we will promote sponsored bike schemes for our towns and cities to encourage greater participation in cycling.

Please see page 27 of the Scottish Conservative Party manifesto for this policy.

Please also see the Scottish Conservative Party spending plans and the Scottish Conservative Party summary budget which relate to their manifesto.

The party had no previous policy stated on its website for this topic for comparison.

Retrieved on 10/04/11 (1:47am) from: 2011 Party Manifesto

Sport

We recognise that sport should be more than just taking pride in elite athletes. It should be something that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy, participate in and gain from. It has the potential to bring young and old, families and communities together.

We will:
• Use major sporting events to help promote grassroots sports.
• Support the involvement of democratic community organisations and co-operatives in the governance of football and other sports.
• Develop a Scotland-wide school Olympics.
• Recognise the importance of rugby to Scotland's economy and communities and encourage broadcasters to increase the level of rugby on both terrestrial and satellite television.

Please see page 27 of the Scottish Liberal Democrat Party manifesto for this policy.

The party had no previous policy stated on its website for this topic for comparison.

Retrieved on 10/04/11 (1:34am) from: 2011 Party Manifesto

Sport and Commonwealth Games

Scots are passionate about sport and our country has a long and proud sporting tradition. But sports participation and achievement are only part of the picture. Tens of thousands of Scots already realise the benefits to be gained from participating in some form of physical activity. We want more people to get active. We believe that only by looking at physical activity and sport together will we harness that passion and tradition to make them an engine of positive change in our country - improving health, reducing anti-social behaviour and making our society fairer.

Commonwealth Games and its Legacy

Helping Scots become more active is at the heart of our vision for a sporting nation. The 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow provide a fantastic opportunity for Scotland to realise that vision and embed physical activity in our culture. The Scottish Government is committed to funding 80 per cent of the total cost of the Games and a re-elected SNP will ensure the Games continue to be delivered on time and on budget.

The Scottish Government's games legacy for Scotland outlines an ambitious long-term approach that aims to capitalise on this once-in-a-generation opportunity to host a major international sporting event in the heart of Scotland. The SNP's manifesto for sport aims to use the Games in 2014 to put Scotland on the path to a healthier and more successful future.

A re-elected SNP government will continue to demand the return of lottery monies diverted from Scottish good causes to help fund the London Olympics. The UK government has confirmed that a sum of £114 million has been diverted. The return of this funding, and the delivery of specific lottery support for the Commonwealth Games as for the 2012 Olympics, would help turn what we consider to be a good legacy from the 2014 games into a great legacy.

Elite Athletes

Our sportsmen and women can be proud of their achievements on the international stage. For example, we exceeded our expectations when it came to securing medals at the Delhi Games. We want to maintain that success and will provide £8 million in funding for our elite athlete programme up to 2014.

Community Sports Hubs

Community Sports Hubs are a key legacy component of the SNP's ambition for a healthier and more active Scotland. Based in local facilities such as sports centres, community centres and schools, hubs bring local people together and provide a home for local clubs and sports organisations. Hubs also provide information, support and advice on a wide range of sports and physical activities to make it easier for local people to engage in a more active and healthier lifestyle. Only by making participation in physical activity and sports more accessible and attractive will we succeed in our overall ambition to create a more active population.

The SNP in government has thus far delivered 35 community sports hubs in eight local authorities. We will build on this success by committing to deliver at least 100 community sports hubs across all 32 councils by 2014.

Community Ownership

We will also support community ownership of local sports facilities. The SNP government has invested heavily in funding to support the creation of social enterprises and we will encourage local communities to engage with these funding streams to take forward their plans.

Active Schools

If we are to make Scotland an active nation, getting children involved in sport at an early age is vital. Alongside the community sports hubs, the Active Schools programme is designed to increase the number of opportunities for children to get engaged in physical activity and sport. The programme develops links with sports clubs and other community organisations to give pupils a "pathway" to facilitate their participation in sport beyond school. The Active Schools has proved a remarkable success. From the £13 million invested to fund the programme in 2009-10 we saw:

• the deployment of 450 Active Schools staff
• participation by 2,500 schools in all 32 local authority areas
• the delivery of almost 5 million sessions in 69 different sports

The SNP in government will build on this success by continuing to fund the Active Schools programme in line with existing levels.

To this end, we will continue to work with COSLA to open up the school estate over and above regular hours and, in doing so, deliver more sporting opportunities for children as well as the wider community.

Delivery of PE

Under the SNP, huge strides have been made in the delivery of Physical Education in our schools. 55 per cent of school pupils now receive two hours of PE per week, compared to just 5 per cent in 2005. In addition, 60 per cent of secondary schools inspected in 2009-10 were delivering at least two 50 or 55-minute periods.

We will build on this progress and by 2014 our aim is to deliver at least two hours of PE in primary schools and at least two periods of PE in secondary schools for pupils in S1-S4.

Investment in Sport

CashBack for Communities - The lack of sports facilities and sporting opportunities in local neighbourhoods can lead to frustration and disillusionment amongst youngsters. That is why we have used £40 million seized from organised criminals and invested it in a wide range of activities including in sport - from football to basketball to hockey - for children in deprived areas. We will expand the use of this "CashBack" money for community sports.

Football - Football is a force for good in Scotland. Investment from the Scottish Government in the development of football reached a record level of £6.5 million in 2009-10. But we must do more to develop Scotland's national game.

The SNP will continue to work with the SFA to ensure recommendations of the McLeish Review into Scottish Football are delivered. As part of this we will fulfil the Scottish Government's commitment to invest £4 million from sportscotland in the Youth Action Plan over the next four years. We will review the Youth Action Plan to ensure that our continued support for the youth game is developing grassroots football in Scotland. We will also work with Supporters' Trusts to ensure an enhanced role for these important organisations in our national game.

We will use funding from our Young Scots Fund to provide a new National Indoor Football Centre with attached National Football Academy, one of the key recommendations of the McLeish Review. We will invite Local Authorities to bid to have the new centre in their area.

Rugby - Through the cashback programme since May 2007, over £4.5 million has been committed to assist in the development of rugby facilities and implementation of Scottish Rugby's strategic plan.

The SNP will fulfil the commitment of the Scottish Government in 2008 to provide Scottish Rugby with £3.8 million over six years to deliver activities in communities across Scotland. We will also continue to work with Scottish Rugby and other partners to try and secure a leg of the IRB Sevens World Series in Scotland.

Clubgolf - This is Scotland's junior golf initiative and was established as a direct result of Scotland's bid to host the Ryder Cup in 2014. It is delivered in 31 of the 32 local authorities and provides children with an opportunity to experience golf in primary school. Over 180,000 Scottish schoolchildren have progressed through this initiative. Since its inception, the Scottish Government has provided annual investment of £500,000 directly to support this programme. We commit to maintaining this level of funding for the duration of the next parliamentary term.

Swimming - Over and above the £1.4m provided to Scottish Swimming, the Scottish Government has announced an additional £0.8 million to be used as part of a top-up programme which helps Local Authorities work towards an aspiration of helping Primary 7 aged school children learn to swim.

The range of sports which receive government funding through sportscotland is considerable. Over 40 sports, from Angling through to Wrestling, receive direct support. These reflect the rich diversity of activity which thousands of Scots enjoy. We will continue to ensure that this diversity is maintained and promoted.

Facilities

In government the SNP reversed decades of under investment in Scotland's sporting facilities. Since May 2007, the Scottish Government in partnership with sportscotland, has invested almost £35 million in sporting facilities. This has helped to deliver or is delivering:

• Four new multi-sports world-class facilities in Aberdeen, Ravenscraig, Stirling and Scotstoun in Glasgow.
• Four large-scale Commonwealth Games projects currently underway - National Indoor Sports Arena, Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Tollcross pool in Glasgow along with the improvements to the Commonwealth pool in Edinburgh.
• 22 football projects valued at over £4 million which has seen new and improved pitches in 13 sites, including eight 3G synthetic pitches and also improvements to changing facilities at 10 locations across Scotland.
• 11 swimming pools with £15.2 million investment including the Olympia pool in Dundee.
• A further 31 projects offering new and improved facilities including support for Pickaquoy on Orkney, Dumfries Ice Bowl and a new Fife Institute in Glenrothes.

The SNP will also ensure that a further £5 million of CashBack monies announced by the Scottish Government in March of this year delivers 21 new multi-sport 3G pitches allowing communities across Scotland to benefit.

Please see page 31 of the Scottish National Party manifesto for this policy.

The party had no previous policy stated on its website for this topic for comparison.

Retrieved on 16/04/11 (1:56pm) from: 2011 Party Manifesto

Investing in communities

Our green spaces are a valuable community resource, which contribute to the health of our communities, especially by providing for informal sporting activities and play spaces for children.

We'll oppose the sale of green spaces, such as open spaces and playing fields, which often takes place against the wishes of the communities who use them. We'll use the current audit of green space across Scotland to inform communities about what has been lost over recent years, and empower them to protect what remains.

Greens want communities to have the facilities they need to support healthy lifestyles and the community spaces they want for local places to flourish. Unfortunately, local communities throughout Scotland are facing a reduction and loss of those spaces, services and amenities.

We'll oppose the closure of community sports and leisure facilities, recognising their value in providing health and social benefits. We'll also ensure our library services are protected from unnecessary cuts appreciating their value for community-based learning and social activities.

We'll review the operation of the 2006 Planning Act with a view to restoring planning's original purpose of achieving development which is in the public good, instead of placing economic growth above other priorities. The rights of developers and communities must also be revisited, and we’ll consult on a workable balance of appeal rights. We’ll ensure that urban communities can assert a right to buy land and community facilities.

We'll empower community councils to take on a legal role in decision making through planning and local urban design policy, including working towards greater localisation through democratic Common Good Trusts.

Our national sport is in difficulty. The people who really matter, the people who pay the bills - football fans - are excluded from the big decisions. Current proposals for restructuring of the game are opposed by 88 per cent of fans. Community ownership of clubs on the land reform model offers an exciting way to give clubs a stable platform to invest in their communities.

We support the work of fans' trusts and organisations, and we believe there should be incentives for fans to invest via supporter co- operatives. We will also examine legal options to allow clubs to be better structured to reflect their importance to their communities, underpinned by the real involvement of fans.

Please see pages 18-19 of the Scottish Green Party manifesto for this policy.

The party had no previous policy stated on its website for this topic for comparison.

Retrieved on 05/05/11 (1:25am) from: 2011 Party Manifesto

A sporting Scotland

Participating in sporting activity uncovers talent and develops skills that are vital to our nation's future success, including nurturing confidence, teamwork and drive. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games offer an unprecedented opportunity to showcase our nation to the world. But the Games also offer a unique opportunity to showcase sport to Scotland's young people. Scottish Labour will work with partners to ensure that the Commonwealth Games are as accessible as possible to Scotland's younger generation and will introduce Commonwealth Legacy Schools, to ensure that the legacy of the Games is an investment in Scotland's future talent.

Protecting the integrity of Scotland's professional sport is vital. We will work with governing authorities to ensure that professional clubs are accountable to their stakeholders, run transparently and on sound financial principles, with greater involvement in our local communities and enhanced supporter representation. Scottish Labour will continue and enhance support for Supporters Direct, to give football fans a say in our national game.

We will continue to support Scotland's University of Sport at Stirling beyond 2011, to ensure our athletes have access to the support they need to become sporting champions and to promote a nation-wide culture of sport and physical activity. Scottish Labour will also consult on bringing forward a Sport Bill within the lifetime of the next parliament, which will safeguard and improve the provision of opportunities for sport, leisure and physical activity for all people in Scotland.

Please see pages 89-90 of the Scottish Labour Party manifesto for this policy.

Please see this [SCREEN GRAB of the previous version of this policy from the party website.

Retrieved on 10/04/11 (1:58am) from: 2011 Party Manifesto