§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken during the last five months to promote or assist the construction of swimming baths or pools in or adjoining schools under his authority, indicating how many such swimming baths or pools are now in existence and how many more he plans to construct in the immediate future; and what provision he has recently made for the promotion of education in swimming.
§ Mr. CroslandI welcome proposals to provide swimming baths in new schools where this is practicable and about one in six of large secondary schools now coming forward include one in the plans. One hundred and twenty-five covered and heated pools have been approved since 1958; I do not collect information on other types of pools, but the English Schools Swimming Association estimates the number at about 3,000. I am sure that local education authorities do not need to be reminded of the value of swimming. I shall look to the Sports Council, which was set up in February, for general advice on the development of amateur swimming.