Swimming Pools, Leisure Centres and Sports Grounds 2023-06-15
2023-06-15
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The questioner is concerned about the sustainability of public facilities like Elswick swimming pool, which faces financial difficulties due to rising energy costs and income loss.
Whether her Department is taking steps to support the sustainability of local (a) swimming pools, (b) leisure centres and (c) sports grounds. The Minister says that money is available but Elswick swimming pool has received none despite facing a crisis. Can he tell me what he is doing to ensure it survives and thrives?
Local authorities are responsible for providing access to public leisure centres and sports grounds, but the Government continue to encourage them to invest in those really important community spaces. That is why we are delivering £60 million through the swimming pool support fund to address cost pressures facing many public swimming pools and to invest in energy efficiency measures. The hon. Lady's particular pool can apply for this money when criteria are released very shortly.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific issue of Elswick swimming pool not receiving any support was not directly addressed with a concrete action plan or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Elswick swimming pool faces financial difficulties due to rising energy costs and income loss, leading the questioner to seek assurance on its survival.
Elswick swimming pool is a wonderful enabler of physical and mental health, serving communities with high levels of deprivation. It could do more if social prescribing were enabled but faces an absolute crisis because of rising energy costs and cost of living crisis hitting income. The Minister says money is available, but it has received none. Can he tell me what he is doing to ensure Elswick swimming pool survives and thrives?
£60 million through the swimming pool support fund is available, including £20 million for initial costs and £40 million for future resilience. Criteria will be released soon so that Elswick swimming pool can apply.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific issue of immediate financial assistance to Elswick was not addressed with a concrete action plan or timeline.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
It has been three months since the £60 million swimming pool support fund was announced, and no money has reached affected facilities yet.
The £60 million swimming pool support fund was announced three months ago. No one has received any money so far. According to the Local Government Association, £23 million is revenue funding which works out to only £25,000 per pool and will not arrive until September. The rest is capital, allocated through a yet-to-be-determined bidding process in December. Why is it taking so long when our swimming pools are at risk of closure?
We have been working hard to ensure that the money goes to the right places, addressing specific issues. It is right that we use the money wisely and target those that need it.
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Assessment & feedback
The question about delays in support distribution was avoided by discussing general principles without providing a timeline or concrete actions for immediate relief.
Response accuracy