Gyms: Elderly

Mr. Cash
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to provide free gym access for those over the age of 60 years.

Andy Burnham
[holding answer 15 May 2009]: The Government have no present plan to extend the Free Swimming Programme to provide free gym access for those over the age of 60 years. Around 10 million people aged 60 or over in England stand to benefit from the Government’s Free Swimming Programme. We will be monitoring closely the impact of the scheme on levels of participation.