Mr. Geraint Morganasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) whether he is aware of the lack of indoor physical training facilities in West Denbighshire, and in particular, in the Colwyn Bay district; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that a sports hall is included in the educational building programme for the area;
(2) how much money has been appropriated in the current educational building programme for building facilities for physical education in West Denbighshire.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe physical education facilities financed from the educational building programmes are those provided at schools, and establishments of further and higher education. In these cases, physical education facilities form an integral part of the educational establishment and in schools must comply with the standards laid down in the Building Regulations. The cost of such provision form part of the total cost of the building.
In designing the new secondary schools at Colwyn Bay it will be the responsibility of the local education authority to decide whether a sports hall should be included.
Physical education provision for the community is not financed from educational building programmes. It is my policy however to encourage joint use by school and community of expensive specialist facilities. As from 1st April, 1971, the local authorities assume complete responsibility for provision of this nature. The financial arrangements for such locally determined schemes were explained in Welsh Office Circular 116/70.