More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A Kent MP addressed the Prime Minister after it was announced spectators will not be returning to sporting to venues in October as planned.
MP for Chatham and Aylesford Tracey Crouch raised her concerns to Boris Johnson earlier today after fearing sport could be 'decimated' financially following the pandemic.
Ms Crouch, who announced she has been diagnosed with breast cancer in June, addressed parliament via video link during today's coronavirus briefing.
She said: "Sport and physical activity contributes to over £16 billion to the UK economy and directly employs over 600,000 people and indirectly many more.
"It reaches beyond the pitch, field, court or pool and its social value, which includes physical and mental well-being, is estimated at more than £72 billion.
"Yet right now both codes of rugby, football, cricket, netball, hockey, tennis, swimming to name but a few are in a perilous situation due to spectators not being able to return and venues unable to host income raising events such as conferences.
"Sport and all it directly and indirectly involves cannot continue to face these kind of losses."
The ex-minister for sport asked the Prime Minister if he would elaborate on his comments regarding a financial support package for sport to ensure "it isn't left decimated after the pandemic".
Miss Crouch's question comes after the government announced the return of spectators to sports venues from the start of October will be postponed due to a tightening of social distancing restrictions following an increase in daily coronavirus cases.
In response to the question Boris Johnson said: "The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is now working flat-out with the Premier League and others to identify ways in which we can keep these clubs going and we can support sport at all levels throughout the pandemic.
"One of the things we are not doing is stopping outdoor physical activity.
"We are not stopping team sports outside, we want that to continue, but that's why it is vital that we enforce the package of measures we have outlined today."
