SWIMMING AND THE HEALTHY WEIGHT, HEALTHY LIVES STRATEGY

That this House is aware that three million people in the UK swim every week, an experience which helps, amongst others, people with disabilities, and those recovering from injury, improves health and combats obesity; recognises that swimming clubs and connected social groups add significantly to community cohesion through efforts to integrate those in different socio-economic conditions, families, religions and age groups; notes that having the ability to swim is a real life skill which regularly saves the lives of those practising it; further notes statistics which show that, nevertheless on average 400 people in Britain drown every year, and that it is the third most common cause of accidental death amongst children; and calls on the Government at this time of financial restraint to support the cross departmental strategy on Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives, in order to ensure an increasing ratio of participation in swimming, through delivering its health and safety agenda at a local level.