HC Deb 12 July 1962 vol 662 cc1502-3
27 and 28. Mr. Wainwright

asked the Minister of Education (1) if he will give the number of secondary schools in England and Wales and the number of such schools which do not contain swimming baths;

(2) if he will give an up-to-date list of the number of secondary schools where there are no provisions for the pupils to be taught to swim.

Sir D. Eccles

There are about 6,000 maintained secondary schools in England and Wales. The great majority of these schools do not have their own swimming baths, although the number of schools with their own baths, particularly pools for learners, is increasing. Swimming is mainly taught at public swimming baths.

Mr. Wainwright

Will the right hon. Gentleman give further consideration to this to make certain that secondary schools have baths of their own? Where that is impossible, will he consult the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the Treasury to see that local authorities have financial help in building baths locally for schools? Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is very important to teach swimming and life saving to children in order to prevent the great number of deaths among them by drowning, especially during the summer months?

Sir D. Eccles

I am very much in favour of more swimming for school children. I recently opened a swimming bath in order to have the opportunity of saying almost exactly what the hon. Gentleman has just said.

Mr. Wainwright

Although the right hon. Gentleman is interested in children having facilities for swimming lessons, may I ask him to do more and to make certain that more baths are built within secondary schools and, in places where this cannot be done, encourage public authorities to build them locally?

Sir D. Eccles

There are more baths under construction than at any previous time, I think.

Mrs. White

Is the right hon. Gentleman not going to publish the number in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Sir D. Eccles

This Question appeared on the Order Paper only yesterday and I have had no time to discover the numbers asked for.

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