Swimming (Hansard, 21 October 2002)

§ Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how the development of Specialist Sports Colleges and School Sport Coordinator partnerships is contributing to increasing facilities available for swimming. [75819]

§ Mr. Caborn
The Government recently announced the investment of more than £450 million over the next three years to transform the quality of sports teaching in schools. The funds will, amongst other things, contribute to the further development of the Specialist Sport College (240 new Colleges by 2005) and School Sport Co-ordinator (from 700 to 2,400 Co-ordinators by 2005) schemes, and will bring a step change in the quality of sports teaching by promoting expertise and developing opportunity. The investment builds on the £750 million being invested in sports facilities across the UK as part of the New Opportunities Fund PE and Sport programme.
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The Government recognises the importance of swimming to young people and the role it—along with sport more generally—can play in raising standards, improving behaviour and tackling disaffection, as well as improving health levels. On 17 October, as part of the Government's response to the Swimming Advisory Group's recent Report, the Government launched a swimming initiative which will include: a new swimming and water safety website; proposals for a swimming charter (to be published next year); two pilot schemes for children in the final year of primary school and who cannot swim 25 metres; and increased training for teachers.

§ Lynne Jones
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of the cost of refurbishing local authority swiming pools; and what resources are expected to be available over the next five years for this purpose. [75820]

§ Mr. Caborn
Sport England estimate that the costs for modernising public sector swimming pools alone (not including educational sites) is approximately £2 billion. The Lottery Sports Fund has invested £244 million in the development of new swimming facilities and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools, making swimming the largest beneficiary sport of Lottery Sports Funding to date.
Grants from the Lottery Sports Fund are allocated by Sport England according to the policies and priorities set out in their Lottery strategy. We believe that any investment in swimming pool infrastructure should both meet the need of local communities and those of elite swimmers and above all, should be sustainable in the long term.