This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7141519.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Reprieve for national sports body | Reprieve for national sports body |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scotland's national sports agency is set to win a partial reprieve, BBC Scotland understands. | Scotland's national sports agency is set to win a partial reprieve, BBC Scotland understands. |
| Sportscotland was due to be scrapped under a cull of quangos promised by the SNP when it took power in May. | Sportscotland was due to be scrapped under a cull of quangos promised by the SNP when it took power in May. |
| But it is believed ministers have been impressed by the argument that Scottish sport needs a single organisation to drive forward improvements. | But it is believed ministers have been impressed by the argument that Scottish sport needs a single organisation to drive forward improvements. |
| It is understood that a scaled-down agency will be retained to co-ordinate sport around the country. | It is understood that a scaled-down agency will be retained to co-ordinate sport around the country. |
| Sportscotland invests millions from the Scottish Government and the Lottery to improve facilities and extend the benefits of sport throughout the community. | Sportscotland invests millions from the Scottish Government and the Lottery to improve facilities and extend the benefits of sport throughout the community. |
| But it has faced challenges over its budget controls and over key targets that were missed. | But it has faced challenges over its budget controls and over key targets that were missed. |
| Now that's an organisation that, I'm afraid, is actually failing SNP's former sports spokesman Michael Matheson | Now that's an organisation that, I'm afraid, is actually failing SNP's former sports spokesman Michael Matheson |
| It has been argued that with the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Glasgow and the London Olympics soaking up available cash, a national body should still be kept. | It has been argued that with the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Glasgow and the London Olympics soaking up available cash, a national body should still be kept. |
| The SNP's former sports spokesman, Michael Matheson, said: "The key policy that they were meant to implement was Sports 21. | The SNP's former sports spokesman, Michael Matheson, said: "The key policy that they were meant to implement was Sports 21. |
| "They missed six of the 10 key targets that they were meant to achieve. | "They missed six of the 10 key targets that they were meant to achieve. |
| "Now that's an organisation that, I'm afraid, is actually failing. | "Now that's an organisation that, I'm afraid, is actually failing. |
| 'Exciting time' | 'Exciting time' |
| "It was not just the case that they actually failed to achieve them. There were a number of them where they actually regressed. | "It was not just the case that they actually failed to achieve them. There were a number of them where they actually regressed. |
| "The problem got even worse in terms of participation levels." | "The problem got even worse in terms of participation levels." |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie, said that the organisation should be retained. | Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie, said that the organisation should be retained. |
| He said: "This should be an exciting time for sport in Scotland as Glasgow celebrates a successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Scottish athletes prepare to compete at the London Olympics in 2012. | He said: "This should be an exciting time for sport in Scotland as Glasgow celebrates a successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Scottish athletes prepare to compete at the London Olympics in 2012. |
| Government decision | Government decision |
| "Instead we have confusion and chaos surrounding the future of our national sports agency. | "Instead we have confusion and chaos surrounding the future of our national sports agency. |
| "Sportscotland is of vital importance to Scottish sport - it provides advice, coordinates the delivery of sports policy and strategy and channels government and lottery money into sports. | "Sportscotland is of vital importance to Scottish sport - it provides advice, coordinates the delivery of sports policy and strategy and channels government and lottery money into sports. |
| "The Scottish Government has yet to come up with a convincing reason for abolishing Sportscotland." | "The Scottish Government has yet to come up with a convincing reason for abolishing Sportscotland." |
| Sports governing bodies have campaigned to keep Sportscotland after the SNP pledged to scrap it. | Sports governing bodies have campaigned to keep Sportscotland after the SNP pledged to scrap it. |
| MSPs debated the issue at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday and a government decision is expected in the New Year. |