Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the number of leisure centres that will receive financial support for energy bills, as part of the package of measures announced in the Spring Budget 2023.

At the Budget, we announced a dedicated £63 million support package for swimming pools, which is targeted at addressing cost pressures facing public swimming pool providers. It will also help provide investment in energy efficiency measures to reduce future operating costs and make facilities sustainable in the long-term. Eligibility criteria for the fund will be published shortly, which will determine the number of beneficiaries through a competitive process. The Government intends for community and charitable trusts to be eligible for support.