JUSTIN Tomlinson has urged his fellow MPs to look to Swindon when they consider how to use the tax on sugary drinks to fund an increase in school sport.

The North Swindon MP led a debate in Parliament earlier looking at how the soft drinks levy, which is expected to bring in about £520m a year, could be used effectively to drive up health and fitness among young people.

When the policy was announced in 2016, the then chancellor outlined plans to spend £285m on extending the secondary school day for sport and £160m to double the primary school PE budget.

A further £10m will be used to expand breakfast clubs in 1,600 schools. But Justin believes more can be done.

He told his fellow MPs: “I’ve spoken in a number of debates since I first became an MP on the power of sport to influence good behaviour, create opportunities, and to provide enjoyment,

“The £500m pot is a significant amount of money that can make a genuine difference.”

The ideas put forward during the debate included a drive to launch sports camps across the country and a push to allow school sports facilities to be used free of charge by voluntary groups from 4pm to 6pm with the help of limited sugar tax funding.

Justin also called on the Sports Minister to look towards the non-league sporting arena to address a long-standing shortage of PE teachers.

The latter idea was inspired by the work of Mark Draycott, the former non-league footballer turned PE teacher who founded Draycott Sports Camps at Oakhurst Primary School.

Justin described the project, which takes place after school, at weekends and during the holidays, as setting itself apart from others by a country mile.

“Over 200 primary school children were being active each and every single day in the last summer holidays,” he said.

“Slightly more were girls than boys, engaging in all sorts of different sports.

“This is for the vast majority of children who are not necessarily sports minded, who are the ones most likely to become obese.”

MPs were told how the camps could be replicated across the country as sustainable ventures, not reliant beyond the initial start-up phase on a sugar tax which should decrease over time in line with changes in consumer behaviour.

But Justin also acknowledged that such a model, where parents pay about £12.50 a day, faced difficulties in more deprived areas.

He urged the Government to help bridge that gap by compensating schools who made their facilities available, for free, to volunteers putting on evening sport for kids.

He concluded by telling his fellow MPs: “I want every child to have as much fun as those at the Draycott Sports Camps and this is the time that we can make it a reality.”