Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of council-run swimming pools in Greater Manchester.

We recognise the importance of ensuring public access to swimming pools, as swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy. The responsibility of providing this access lies at Local Authority level, and the Government continues to encourage Local Authorities to support swimming facilities.

We have also confirmed an additional £60 million support package for swimming pools, which is targeted at addressing cost pressures facing public swimming pool providers and helping make facilities sustainable in the long-term.

Data held by Sport England shows that at June 2023 there are 86 operational swimming pools (with 5 temporarily closed) across 48 sites owned by Local Authorities in the Greater Manchester area.