Sports row

I was very disappointed to read your story, “Chief medical officer to mediate in sports row” (3 October). The content of the article is largely a rerun of previous complaints made by Ronnie Conway about the reduction in the funding awarded to Badminton Scotland by SportScotland.

The only new aspect to the story was a claim that, as sports minister, I had asked chief medical officer Harry Burns to “step into an escalating row”. This is untrue. The only involvement of Harry Burns in this matter is his participation in a courtesy meeting offered to Mr Conway by officials on my behalf. I have complete confidence in SportScotland and its funding decisions. The investment of public money in governing bodies is not an entitlement but one that has to be based on criteria such performance and participation rates. Sportscotland drives a hard bargain on these matters and it is not always to everyone’s liking.

SportScotland has my full support in the difficult decisions it often has to make.

Shona Robison

Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport

Holyrood

Edinburgh