Dear Martin, 

On March 28 2007, then Minister for Sport Richard Caborn MP told the House: “Sports coach UK advise that a UKCC qualification for judo has now been submitted but is not yet endorsed. Access to existing sport specific UKCC qualifications is not limited to members of specified governing bodies.”

On May 18 2007, Robert Burles, Policy Official Sports Division DCMS wrote to me: “I would like to reassure you that our and sports coach UK’s position is clear. We expect all UKCC courses to be accessible including, in this case, to non-BJA members. The Chief executive of the BJA has assured sports coach UK that they are working on arrangements to establish an appropriate system to achieve this, which will be reflected in their final submission.” (But two months earlier the Minister had said sports coach UK had advised that a UKCC qualification for judo had already been submitted ?)

On June 14 2007, in response to my enquiries regarding the UKCC you emailed me: "I have been advised that I am unable to respond to any further enquiries on this matter."

On February 21 2008 you confirmed, in an email to Andy Davies, that a judo UKCC level 1 and 2 had been endorsed. According to DCMS and sports coach UK (letter May 18 2007) endorsement must have included arrangements for non-NGB people to gain the qualification?

Subsequently, February 23 2008, Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I requested DCMS supply information of the “assured arrangements” for non-NGB people to gain a judo UKCC. Policy Official Mr Burles replied, March 3 2008: “I am able to confirm that the department holds no recorded information that fall within either aspect of your information request”

We are now back on the carousel. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 I now write to request that sports coach UK please supply the following information:

1. Has provision been made for non-NGB judo people to gain the judo UKCC?

2. If provisions have been made what are they?

3. If provisions have not been made, why not?

Would you kindly confirm receipt of this letter of request.

Yours sincerely,

John Goldman

Campaign Leader