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

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the change to eligibility groups in the pilot scheme introduced by the International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport (INAS) on encouraging more people with Down's syndrome and autism to enter the 2017 INAS World Swimming Championships.

We welcome the efforts of international bodies, like the International Federation for Intellectual Impairment Sport, to make their events more inclusive. The government supports efforts that aim to encourage disabled people, including those with Down's syndrome and autism, to become active and to fulfil their sporting potential. The government's sport strategy, Sporting Future: A Strategy for an Active Nation (published in Dec 2015), places a focus on encouraging activity amongst those less likely to be active, including disabled people.

Government is not involved in the selection of the British team for the INAS World Swimming Championships - British entries are sanctioned by the UK Sport Association for People with Learning Disability (UKSA). It is for them to liaise with organisations like Down's Syndrome Swimming GB about British entries into the event.