§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, following his decision to make material available to local authorities in support of the Learn to Swim Campaign, organised by the Royal Order of the Society of Prevention of Accidents in conjunction with the Amateur Swimming Association, how many local authorities have requested publicity material; and if he is satisfied with the response, in view of the estimate that less than half of the population can swim and that nearly 700 people accidentally drown annually.
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§ Mr. Lane465 local authorities have asked the Home Office for publicity material. This represents less than one-third of the authorities who were offered copies of this material. I hope that more will take up the offer, but participation in the campaign in entirely at the authorities' discretion.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the local authorities who have not requested the free special campaign posters for the Learn to Swim Campaign have no swimming facilities or inadequate facilities; and how many are at present planning to build or are building swimming pools.