A new inquiry has been launched by a House of Lords committee into the relationship between grassroots sports and the European Union (EU).

The EU sub-committee - social policies and consumer protection aims to look at the benefits of grassroots sports and how the EU's 'competence' in sport can help drive up participation. Other issues to be debated include whether sport is given enough recognition across relevant EU policy areas and how the new EU Sports Programme should be organised.

Committee chair Baroness Young of Hornsey said: "We want to get to the heart of how participating in grassroots sports helps individuals, communities and society more widely. "However, we are aware that there are sometimes obstacles or barriers to people participating, particularly for minority groups, thus preventing sport from fulfilling its potential in all spheres."

The committee is now inviting contributions from a range of sector agencies, with written evidence to be submitted by 17 November. Oral evidence will be heard during November. It is hoped the committee will be able to report its findings in early 2011.