TENNIS IN THE COMMUNITY

Early day motion 2457, tabled 22 November 2011 by Simon Reevell (Conservative). Signed by 12 members.

That this House believes that tennis is a great sport which can be enjoyed by people of all ages; notes that physically and mentally it is healthy and can create bonds in families and communities; regrets that too few people in Britain play tennis and that the number that do is in decline; further notes that the number of tennis players has declined by 20 per cent. in the last two years and is now down to only 425,000; further notes that the number of tennis courts has also declined dramatically over thelast 10 years, from 30,000 to fewer than 10,000; believes that to enable wider participation Lottery and taxpayers' money spent on tennis must be focused on grassroots development; calls on the Government to ensure that Sport England funding for tennis from 2013 is channelled entirely to organisations dedicated to grassroots development and participation; and furtherbelieves that this funding should be allocated to coaching for beginners, ensuring that public facilities are playable and safe and that public courts are open every day with cheap or free access.

Signatures by party: Labour 4, Conservative 3, Liberal Democrat 3, DUP 2.