§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why representatives of his Department who were invited to attend meetings of a Standing Joint Committee on Swimming Pool Standards, which included the Institute of Baths Management, the County Architects Society, the English Schools Swimming Association, and the Association of Swimming Pool Contractors Limited, did not attend.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the conference held in April, 1967. The reasons why the Department declined the invitation were explained at the time to the secretary of the Association of Swimming Pool Contractors Limited which sponsored the conference. This covered a field of activity much wider than that of60W the Department, whose responsibility is limited to public swimming pools provided by local authorities. The Department had already published detailed guidance on standards for pools of this type and is always ready to consider suggestions for amendment of those standards.