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Public Swimming Pools

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what action she has taken to ensure that access to public swimming pools in London increases; [186923]

(2) what action she (a) can and (b) will take to increase the number of swimming pools in London. [186924]

Mr. Caborn: Sport England is working with the Amateur Swimming Association on an agreed strategy "From Armbands to Gold Medals" to support the development of swimming in London and across the country.

At present, Sport England is working with the Greater London Authority (GLA), London Development Agency (LDA) and London 2012 on the provision of new swimming facilities in Stratford which will be built whether the Olympic bid is successful or not.

Sport England is also working to encourage greater investment in privately owned swimming facilities that provide public access.

Under the Community Club Development Programme, the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) will receive £1.6 million from the Government's Capital Modernisation Fund to invest strategically in community swimming clubs in all parts of the country.

The overall aim of the programme is to both increase and widen participation in sport at a local level and encourage an active lifestyle. It is expected that this programme will help to raise the number of people, particularly juniors, involved in competitive sport and will also help to improve the health of the nation through encouraging people of all ages to become involved in the sport of their choice.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many (a) public lidos and (b) swimming pools have closed in London since 1997. [186925]

Mr. Caborn: Since 1997, three public lidos and five swimming pools have closed.

Of the five swimming pools that have closed, one is due to be replaced in 2005 (Swiss Cottage Baths).

There are currently 104 pools in London open to the public. This includes two pools that are currently run independently of local authorities, but fully open to the public (these are Brockwell Lido and Hampton outdoor pool).

Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public swimming pools there are in Coventry, South. [187302]

Mr. Caborn: There are 18 swimming pools within a five-mile distance of the CV1 postcode in Coventry, South. Full details of all public swimming pools in the area can be found by visiting the Active Places website at www.activeplaces.com
 
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Public Transport

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has held with (a) the Department of Transport, (b) transport authorities, (c) public transport user groups and (d) companies operating public transport services on ensuring that public transport services are able to respond to the increased demand for late night services arising from increased use of late licences resulting from powers granted to licensing authorities under the Licensing Act 2003. [187157]

Mr. Caborn: The implementation of the Licensing Act 2003 can have no impact on the demand for late night transport services until November 2005 at the earliest. The content of the Licensing Act 2003 and the Licensing Guidance issued by the Secretary of State on 7 July this year, following approval by Parliament, were discussed with and approved by the Department for Transport. There have been no direct discussions with individual transport authorities, public transport user groups and companies operating public transport services other than through the public consultations that preceded the introduction of the Licensing Bill and the laying of the Guidance in Parliament. At paragraph 3.50, the Licensing Guidance advises licensing authorities when developing local statements of licensing policy to have regard to the existing policies and strategies of the relevant local transport authority as set out in their local Transport Plan. Local Transport Plans are the mechanism by which local authorities are expected to work in partnership with all appropriate bodies to deliver effective local transport services that meet the needs of local people. These are expected to include provision of night-time and evening services, where this is appropriate to the local situation. It is for local authorities to identify where and how to take action.

Regional Cultural Consortiums

Miss Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the remit is of the regional cultural consortiums. [187149]

Mr. Caborn: The remit of the Regional Cultural Consortiums is set out in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies", copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The role of the Consortiums is to champion the whole spectrum of cultural and creative interests in the regions, including tourism and sport. The Consortiums have responsibility for implementing the regional cultural strategies and they have a role in central policy-making, regional data collection and research.

School Sports

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many children aged between five and 16 years she estimates have not participated in at least two hours per week of physical activity and sport at school this year. [186504]

Mr. Caborn: The information requested is not held centrally for all pupils.

As a result of the 2004 Spending Review the PE, School Sport and Club Links PSA target is being increased and extended to 2008. The ambition is to
 
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further increase the percentage of five to 16-year-olds spending a minimum of two hours a week on high quality PE and school sport from 75 per cent. in 2006 to 85 per cent. by 2008. The target also seeks to ensure that all School Sport Partnerships are able to demonstrate that at least 75 per cent. of their pupils spend a minimum of two hours a week on high quality PE and schools sport. From this month, 50 per cent. of schools will be in a School Sport Partnership.

Mr. Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many schools in the Bridgwater constituency (a) are and (b) are not participating in a school sports partnership. [186505]

Mr. Caborn: Within the constituency of Bridgwater there is one School Sport Partnership, based around the hub school, King Alfred's, and comprising four secondary schools, 25 primary schools and two special schools. All schools within Bridgwater will be within a School Sport Partnership by September 2006.

Shooting

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she plans to meet the governing bodies of shooting in the near future. [186922]

Mr. Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to meet the governing bodies of shooting in the near future. Officials from the Home Office and Defra have recently met representatives from the governing bodies of shooting to discuss the Home Office consultation on firearms. DCMS officials will continue discussions with Home Office and Defra officials to ensure that the interests of shooting clubs are given appropriate consideration.

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she last met representatives of the governing bodies of shooting to discuss the impact of recent legislation on the sport. [186935]

Mr. Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not met representatives of the governing bodies of shooting to discuss the impact of recent legislation.

Sport England

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the budget of Sport England in the North East region of England was in each of the last three years. [186428]

Mr. Caborn: The following table provides figures for Sport England's budget in the North East region for each of the last three financial years and the current financial year.
£ million

North East budgets	2001–02	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05
Exchequer	1.16	1.17	2.59	1.17
Lottery(104)	15.23	18.70	5.33	11.49
Total budget	16.39	19.87	7.92	12.66

⁽¹⁰⁴⁾ Lottery includes Community Schemes and Awards for All



 
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