To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much (a) his Department and (b) the National Lottery are contributing to the £140 million fund announced on 6 June 2008 to encourage local authorities to offer free swimming. (211373)

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is making a contribution to the capital fund of £9.75 million in 2008-09, £9.75 million in 2009-10 and £10 million in 2010-11.

As for the National Lottery contribution, as part of our work over the summer to design the delivery and implementation arrangements of the free swimming offer, we will be discussing with Sport England its contribution, including the potential of making swimming a growth sport, and how the free swimming initiative can have an impact on increasing sports participation.