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Games' Legacy minister 'is failing to make voice heard'
Matthew Beard, Sports News Correspondent09.11.09
As minister for Olympic legacy, Shahid Malik's onerous task is to help deliver the jobs, homes and regeneration the Government promised as a benefit to Londoners of hosting the 2012 Games.
But it would appear the £94,000-a-year junior minister has yet to make his mark since landing the job at the Department for Communities and Local Government six months ago.
The MP for Dewsbury has not delivered a Parliamentary speech mentioning the Games, has failed to issue a single Olympics-related press release and has never responded to a 2012-themed Parliamentary Question other than to confirm his role. Opposition MPs are raising questions.
Liberal Democrat Tom Brake said: "As far as the Olympics is concerned he is the invisible man. He may like the title but there must be more delivery and there is no evidence this is happening."
A DCLG spokesman said Olympics minister Tessa Jowell handled 2012 legacy questions in Parliament but that Mr Malik attended meetings of the Olympic board and Olympic Park legacy steering group and had regularly visited the site.
Reader views (5)
Mr Malik should be working on the legacy now: challenging the status quo on sports & leisure facilities and tabling searching Questions in Parliament.
a)Why is there almost zero statutory protection for Sports and Leisure? Why are councils allowed to hastily convene just one committee meeting and vote to close a leisure facility , often without any consultation.
b)Why is there no restriction at all on how long an area can be deprived of facilities: local authorities are allowed to close a centre down on the strength of an unenforceable promise that a new centre will be opening in two years/three years/four years time. Sedgemoor District Council has just closed the only pool in Bridgwater, promising there will be a new one out at Chilton Trinity, eventually. Derbyshire Dales District Council closed the only sports centre in Matlock with a promise that the new CALC (Central Area Leisure Centre) would be opening in about three to four years time.
c)Why are councils allowed to break their promises to keep the older facility open until the new one is up and running? eg Harlow Council originally said in 2007 that the older pool would remain open until the new LC was completed. These assurances were broken almost immediately because the council had plans to build 60 homes on the pool site. The pool closed in September 07 and residents are still waiting for the new to open.
Grassroots sports are meant to be part of the legacy, so start working now Mr Malik.
- Sally, Ipswich
I forgot to add that the Olympic lagacy will be a massive debt on Londoners on top of tghe current seriou financial problems. Guess what who si going to pay for it....Londoners.
- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France.
Dani, I am in sympathy with your daughter's plight and it is inded a waste of talent and resources. But in politically correct NooLab Britain, it isn't what you know it's who you know and what you are. Education has nothing to do with it. Idiots are in power with off the wall ideas and without any experience of the real and businness world.
- Strongbow Sullivan, Paris,France.
Another waste of space that is staring down the barrel of a loaded P45 come next May.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one
This young man sounds an absolute waste of time. Someone with energy and drive and nous should be doing his job. What is he earning his money for, precisely - sitting on a couple of committees? My daughter could do a better job than that, - but SHE's unemployed!
She is one of countless talented people needing employment: graduates and postgraduates specialising in foreign studies, finance etc who could kick-start their careers and get off the demoralising job-hunt treadmill with a role that involves organisation, PR and high levels of empathy and nous. I mention my daughter Gianna because she is a perfect candidate: she holds an MSc in Chinese economic, comparative and social studies from the LSE, is a keen and excellent sportswoman, and has now been job hunting - without any result apart from one internship - since graduating in 2008. She is personable, articulate, fit, enthusiastic , diplomatic and talented. She can, and has, organised large events before now, and done spectacularly well at it. She could do Shahid Malik's job without a second thought. Instead she receives an average of 2 job rejections per day and feels demoralised and undervalued.
It's time those in power cut away the dead wood and gave the decent, highly qualified, hardworking and desperate youth of our society a chance.
- Dani Kaye, Royston, Herts., UK
