John,

Given that government funds are finite, they have to prioritise as to which minority interests they will fund. The case for subsidising the child has a number of other things going for it also: It is to do with propagation of the species, at the core of our existence; it is expected to grow itself and become a taxpayer, or serve the country in other ways. In any case, having a child is considerably more important to a country than sport. The comparison works only if one brings procreation as a function down to the level of sport and entertainment.

The case for motorsport is further weakened by the fact that BRDC is a private club, which has declined to date to throw the doors open to public membership.

The case for subsidising Motorsport is more comparable to subsidising Angling, or Hunting, or Air Races, or Horse Racing.