§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the training facilities available for synchronised swimming. [134705]
§ Kate HoeyThe Amateur Swimming Federation of Great Britain and the Amateur Swimming Association have produced a National Facilities Strategy for Swimming which is in final draft form and should be published by the end of the year. The National Strategy considers the needs of various swimming disciplines and includes identification of the requirements for synchronised swimming.
The £120 million Lottery investment in the English Institute of Sport (part of the United Kingdom Sports Institute) includes over £10 million on swimming and diving projects, to add to previous investment of over £20 million in 50 metre pools at the Manchester Aquatics Centre and the University of Bath.
A number of swimming pools which are being developed as part of the Institute will be suitable for synchronised swimming training at the elite level, but there will also be refurbished or new community facilities suitable for synchronised swimming use by the wider community.