Ripples of concern over free swimming

Published on Friday 19 June 2009 21:51

A LABOUR MSP has claimed that the Scottish Government has torn up its pledge to introduce free swimming for children.

The SNP's manifesto ahead of the last Holyrood election said that "children will be given free, year-round access to council swimming pools". But in a letter to an MSP, sports minister Shona Robison said it was "entirely" down to local councils whether youngsters got free entry to pools.

Labour's sports spokesman Frank McAveety said: "I am appalled Shona Robison has torn up the SNP's manifesto pledge to provide children with free access to council pools. We need to give youngsters the opportunity to take part in sport, regardless of their family's income."

Ms Robison wrote in a letter to Labour's Helen Eadie, published yesterday, that the government believed in the benefits of swimming, but added: "It is entirely a matter for individual local authorities, taking into account individual needs and priorities."

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Government said councils were responsible for about 90 per cent of spending on sport in Scotland.

She added: "Many local authorities in Scotland already provide free admission to public swimming pools for targeted groups, and we have clear ambitions to go further."