§ 20. Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Education how many swimming pools have been built by each of the education authorities in England and Wales, respectively; and what encouragement is given by his Department to the further provision of swimming pools in State-aided schools.
§ Sir E. BoyleThe information is not available. I welcome the increase which is taking place in facilities for teaching swimming but it is a matter for individual local education authorities to decide whether a swimming pool should be provided within the cost limits for a new school.
§ Sir B. JannerWhy is not the information available? If the swimming pools are there, surely the information should be available. Secondly, what kind of encouragement is the Minister giving to the various authorities to build these important amenities in their schools? Is he taking any steps in this direction?
§ Sir E. BoyleI collect information on the number of covered and heated swimming baths which are built, but not on the number of outdoor pools. There 1383 has been some encouragement as, since 1958, 56 covered and heated swimming baths have been built as part of major projects at maintained schools in England and Wales and another 51 are under construction or approved.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes not the Minister realise that swimming is important for the young boys and girls and that the approaching summer is likely to bring serious loss of life because children cannot swim? Will the Minister give further consideration to the suggestion that all secondary modern schools should have swimming pools attached?
§ Sir E. BoyleI agree that it is important that children should be taught to swim. It is not always necessary, however, to build a conventional swimming bath. Many successful experiments have been carried out in the smaller prefabricated type of bath.