Barmy rules prevent children swimming

HUGH ROBERTSON TACKLES SECRETARY OF STATE OVER BAN ON CHILDREN SWIMMING Hugh Robertson has written directly to the Secretary of State for Sport

to ask her to amend the new government ruling preventing parents from taking their children to swim in a public swimming bath. The new rule came into force on 1 May 2004.

Two government bodies, the Health and Safety Executive and the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management, have amended their rules to recommend that any adult may only take two children under the age of 8 into a public swimming pool. The new rule is only a recommendation but any pool that does not comply, risks prosecution for breaching the guidelines.

Hugh has already had a number of complaints from constituents that have three, or more, children under the age of 8 and are now prevented from taking them swimming.

Hugh said: “This is a ludicrous overreaction to a non existent problem. Given that the new rules took effect on 1 May, the timing could not be worse as the onset of summer marks the period of heaviest demand.

“We should be encouraging parents to take their children swimming for safety, health and enjoyment reasons not putting ridiculous obstacles in their path.

“This is directly the government’s fault – through the Health and Safety Executive and the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management. In our increasingly litigious society, individual swimming pools have no choice but to comply.

“The Secretary of State must change the guidelines as a matter of urgency.”