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Scottish promise to deliver free swimming "is failing"
A pledge to give children free access to swimming throughout Scotland is not being delivered – and doesn't l look as if ever will.
Only two councils provide school children with free, year-round access to swimming pools.
And while Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "We are 20 months into a four-year term, and are working through our manifesto." – The claim is the promise is not being delivered.
Scottish Labour sports spokesman Frank McAveety said: "The SNP have been in power for 18 months now and we have seen absolutely no progress on their pledge to ensure that youngsters have free access to council swimming pools.
"The Scottish Government needs to start taking sport seriously. It is really important that we encourage young people to adopt healthier lifestyles and swimming is a great activity."
The SNP's manifesto pledged free access to council swimming pools.
Mr McAveety said that his staff had contacted all 32 Scottish councils.
Just two councils Glasgow and Inverclyde, provided free, year-round access to council swimming pools for children under 16.
Edinburgh City Council provided free access to children under five.
East Renfrewshire and Fife provided free access during the school holidays.
Dumfries and Galloway used to provide free access but this has since been cut by the new Conservative-Lib Dem coalition.
Ms Sturgeon said: "We are working with local government to develop policy in areas where local government has a key interest, including our ambitions for swimming.
"Indeed, the first legacy announcements have been support for a new 50m pool in Aberdeen, and an extra £1m to help refurbish Edinburgh's Royal Commonwealth Pool."
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Scottish promise to deliver free swimming "is failing"
A pledge to give children free access to swimming throughout Scotland is not being delivered – and doesn't l look as if ever will.
Only two councils provide school children with free, year-round access to swimming pools.
And while Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "We are 20 months into a four-year term, and are working through our manifesto." – The claim is the promise is not being delivered.
Scottish Labour sports spokesman Frank McAveety said: "The SNP have been in power for 18 months now and we have seen absolutely no progress on their pledge to ensure that youngsters have free access to council swimming pools.
"The Scottish Government needs to start taking sport seriously. It is really important that we encourage young people to adopt healthier lifestyles and swimming is a great activity."
The SNP's manifesto pledged free access to council swimming pools.
Mr McAveety said that his staff had contacted all 32 Scottish councils.
Just two councils Glasgow and Inverclyde, provided free, year-round access to council swimming pools for children under 16.
Edinburgh City Council provided free access to children under five.
East Renfrewshire and Fife provided free access during the school holidays.
Dumfries and Galloway used to provide free access but this has since been cut by the new Conservative-Lib Dem coalition.
Ms Sturgeon said: "We are working with local government to develop policy in areas where local government has a key interest, including our ambitions for swimming.
"Indeed, the first legacy announcements have been support for a new 50m pool in Aberdeen, and an extra £1m to help refurbish Edinburgh's Royal Commonwealth Pool."
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