Swimming (Hansard, 8 July 1988)

§ Mr. Harry Greenway

I wish also to present a petition on behalf of the Amateur Swimming Association, which collected 30,000 signatures in a week. It was presented to me recently by the association and by Mr. Duncan Goodhew, an international swimmer who is well known in the House. It is addressed to the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. The humble petition of members of swimming classes. affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association sheweth, That swimming is the most popular active recreation in the country, That the Amateur Swimming Association has 1,690 affiliated clubs with a total of approximately 300,000 members. That approximately 250,000 children and adults are taught to swim in Britain each year by swimming clubs and their members, That the ability to swim contributes both to personal safety and the good health of individuals. That the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Minister for Sport are mindful that local authorities should not put out to tender the management of publicly owned swimming facilities, without safeguarding the interests of swimming clubs and their members, That without local authority control of charges and concessionary charges, opening hours and the programming of the pools for such uses as teaching and competitions, the survival of swimming clubs, the training of swimmers for state and Olympic competition and the teaching of swimming to both children and adults will be under very grave threat. The Amateur Swimming Association is well aware of the welcome concessions made by the Minister with responsibility for sport in his statement last week. However, it is still concerned and it has my strong support. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your Honourable House will use its best endeavours to prevent the compulsory introduction of private management of publicly owned swimming facilities without safeguarding the interests of swimmers and swimming clubs. And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray, etc.