Spending Priorities

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd – in the Senedd at 1:56 pm on 20 November 2019.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 1:56, 20 November 2019

The changes to the free swimming scheme across Wales came about as a result of the work that Welsh Government asked Sport Wales to do in terms of commissioning an independent review to look at how well the free swimming scheme was meeting its objectives, particularly in terms of offering older people opportunities to swim, but also in terms of ensuring that young people, particularly in more deprived communities, were able to undertake swimming opportunities as well. What the review found was that only 6 per cent of older people were taking up the option for free swimming, but it also found, really worryingly, that young people in poorer communities were not taking up the opportunities. So, the review itself seeks to try and change that in terms of ensuring that more young people do get the opportunity, whilst at the same time ensuring that every community does have the opportunity to—or every local authority does provide at least some free swimming for people who are over 60. If Mohammad Asghar wants to write to me with the examples that he has in terms of how the change has impacted on individuals within the community he represents, then I would be certainly keen to explore them with the Deputy Minister.