This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/politics/10343421.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Free swims in England to be axed | Free swims in England to be axed |
(40 minutes later) | |
Lots of people took part but most would have paid anyway, says the government | Lots of people took part but most would have paid anyway, says the government |
Free swimming for under-16s and over-60s in England will be axed from the end of July as part of government cuts. | Free swimming for under-16s and over-60s in England will be axed from the end of July as part of government cuts. |
The scheme, introduced in April 2009, was due to run until next March but ministers say it was not good value. | The scheme, introduced in April 2009, was due to run until next March but ministers say it was not good value. |
They say although 18 million free swims were taken up in the first year - many of those who took part would have done so anyway, even if they had to pay. | |
Ending the scheme on 31 July will save £40m of the £140m cost of the scheme, the government says. | Ending the scheme on 31 July will save £40m of the £140m cost of the scheme, the government says. |
Budget deficit | |
When the scheme was introduced the previous Labour government said it was aimed at getting people more physically active, and ensure a lasting legacy for the 2012 Olympics. | |
The cost was shared between five government departments. | |
But the new coalition government has been reviewing schemes, as it seeks to make cuts to reduce the record budget deficit. | |
Consultants Pricewaterhouse Coopers were asked to examine the swimming scheme to see if it had increased the number of swimmers and the "health and consequent economic benefits". | |
Their report said in the first year of the scheme 261 local authorities applied for the programme most of which had offered free swims to children and the over-60s but 64 of which concentrated on the over-60s. | |
The analysis showed that more youngsters took up the offer than over-60s. It also shows that the scheme encouraged more paying swimmers to take part - for example adults accompanying children. | |
About 138,000 extra paying customers went swimming in the first year of the scheme. | |
It also said that over-60s who took part increased their swimming sessions so the number reaching the government-recommended average of 30 minutes exercise a day went up from 66.2% of those surveyed to 78.4%. | |
Lottery money | |
For under 16s - who are supposed to do 60 minutes exercise a day - 32.9% managed to hit the target after free swimming was introduced, up from 20.7% beforehand. | |
Of swimmers surveyed, 82.5% of the over-60s said they were likely to have gone anyway. Of the under-16s the figure was 72.9%. | |
Sport and Olympics Minister Hugh Robertson said: "The research shows that the great majority of free swimmers were swimming already, and would have paid to swim anyway. With a crippling deficit to tackle and tough decisions to take, this has become a luxury we can no longer afford." | |
But he said under plans to reform Lottery money an extra £50m should go into sports facilities by 2012. | |
"Our plans to deliver a community sports legacy, in partnership with Sport England, are progressing well and we expect to make a full announcement in July." | |
Axing the swimming scheme, a new visitor centre for Stonehenge and the British Film Institute film centre will save the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about £73m - it says. |
Previous version
1
Next version