§ 25. Mr. Sorensenasked the Minister of Education approximately how many schools have swimming baths or pools; how many of these are inside school buildings, with particular reference to those schools where classrooms are no longer needed for teaching owing to reduction of child population in the district.
§ Mr. ChatawayMy right hon. Friend understands that a number of classroom pools are being installed in various parts of the country and he is asking some of the local authorities mainly concerned to keep him informed about this development. Information about the number of schools which have swimming baths or pools is not available.
§ Mr. SorensenDoes the Minister agree that this is an excellent development and that particularly when schools have redundant classrooms through the diminished school population. It is excellent if schools, both voluntarily and otherwise, get to work in order to install the kind of cheap pool which is in operation in a school in my constituency and about which no doubt the hon. Gentleman knows?
§ Mr. ChatawayI very much agree with the hon. Gentleman. We know about forty-six pools under construction at the moment.
§ Mr. WalkerDoes my hon. Friend agree that swimming pools should be provided by the voluntary efforts of parents and old boys and not at the expense of the taxpayer?
§ Mr. ChatawayNo, Sir; I do not think that that would be possible in all cases.
§ Dr. KingIn Hampshire, nearly three dozen such swimming pools have been provided by parent-teacher associations showing a keen interest in the school, with the local authority making provision for their maintenance and permanent accommodation. Will the hon. Gentleman obtain details of this and circulate them to other authorities?
§ Mr. ChatawayI am aware of such cases, and my right hon. Friend is making inquiries from certain local education authorities.