Written question asked by Lindsay Hoyle (Labour) on Wednesday, 28 June 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 July 2000. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 5 July 2000 on behalf of the Department for Education and Employment.

Dept for Education and Employment

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, what support and assistance he will provide to schools in order to ensure that children are provided with adequate swimming lessons.

Answer: Mr. Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what support and assistance he will provide to schools in order to ensure that children are provided with adequate swimming lessons. [128822] Jacqui Smith: The National Curriculum has always entitled all children to learn to swim unaided for a distance of 25 metres by the time they leave primary school. We have asked Ofsted to report on swimming at Key Stages 1 and 2, using enhanced inspection evidence gathered during November 1999 and information from their existing inspection database. We anticipate receiving their report within the next few months and will then consider their findings.

Secondary information