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 3 Version 4
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 believed 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. The news came as MSPs debated the issue at the Scottish Parliament, ahead of a government decision in the New Year.
But it has faced challenges over its budget controls and over key targets that were missed. We have a minister who is the Humpty Dumpty of the Scottish Parliament - words are what he wants them to mean Johann LamontLabour communities spokeswoman
Now that's an organisation that, I'm afraid, is actually failing SNP's former sports spokesman Michael Matheson Sportscotland invests millions from the Scottish Government and the Lottery to improve facilities and boost sport in communities - but has faced challenges over its budgeting and missed targets.
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 be kept.
The SNP's former sports spokesman, Michael Matheson, said: "The key policy that they were meant to implement was Sports 21. Sports minister Stewart Maxwell told Holyrood: "We are committed to improving sport in Scotland, the needs of sport are central to our decision-making process.
"They missed six of the 10 key targets that they were meant to achieve. "I believe that we are beginning to get the building blocks into place which will enable sport to enhance the quality of young people's lives, aid their educational and social development and reinforce Scotland's place as a truly sporting nation."
"Now that's an organisation that, I'm afraid, is actually failing. Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie, whose party brought forward the sportscotland debate, raised concern that the agency was "in limbo".
'Exciting time' 'Unfair execution'
"It was not just the case that they actually failed to achieve them. There were a number of them where they actually regressed. He added: "It is the law that there must be an independent organisation to oversee the distribution of Lottery funds.
"The problem got even worse in terms of participation levels." "It cannot be done by government, nor can it be done by local authorities."
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie, said that the organisation should be retained. Tory communities and sport spokesman, Jamie McGrigor, accused the Nationalists of wanting to "execute sportscotland without a fair trial".
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: "The abolition of the expertise that has been built up and which has coincided with a successful period for Scottish sport, to be replaced by an as yet undefined organisation that might see sports policy centralised within the Scottish civil service is simply not what our grass roots sports organisations want."
Government decision Johann Lamont, the Labour communities spokeswoman, claimed there was uncertainty over what would happen to the sportscotland's key functions if it was abolished.
"Instead we have confusion and chaos surrounding the future of our national sports agency. "We have a minister who is the Humpty Dumpty of the Scottish Parliament - words are what he wants them to mean," she added.
"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. "I look forward to the minister having the grace to announce a proper timetable to discuss the future of sportscotland and the courage to ask genuine questions about the genuine options available."
"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.
MSPs debated the issue at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday and a government decision is expected in the New Year.