FREE SWIMMING PROGRAMME CONSULTATION

Early day motion 1074, tabled 12 March 2009 by Anne Main (Conservative). Signed by 17 members.

That this House notes with concern that the Free Swimming Programme was designed in closed consultation; expresses concern that there is a lack of wider consultation in devising further initiatives and policies in relation to swimming; further notes that the national governing body for swimming has a commercial advantage in being the only swimming organisation consulted by the Government; acknowledges that consultation which involves only one commercial operator in the field could be anti-competitive and does not ensure a level playing field; recommends that the Government undertakes a review to determine whether a national governing body that competes with other operators, whilst also being the main beneficiary of government funding, represents best value for money; urges the Government to take steps to ensure that national governing bodies do not misuse their position to gain an unfair competitive advantage; and calls on the Government to ensure that wider swimming stakeholders are consulted when devising future policy and to consider issuing consultation guidance to national governing bodies in sport which should be adhered to.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 10, Labour 5, Conservative 2.