Cycling and Walking (Hansard, 18 July 1995)

§ 1. Mr. Robathan
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the potential contribution of (a) cycling and (b) walking to the health of the nation. [33208]

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Mr. John Bowis)
Responsible cycling and walking can improve physical and mental fitness and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.

§ Mr. Robathan
May I, as a fellow Leicestershire Member of Parliament, welcome the new Secretary of State to his first Question Time?
I thank the Minister for that answer. Does he agree that activities such as cycling and walking can also improve blood pressure—particularly on a day like today when 1434 people's blood pressure is unnecessarily raised by a fatuous and ridiculous rail strike? To that end, will my hon. Friend co-operate with his colleagues at the Departments of National Heritage and Transport, and others, including Education and Employment, to ensure that cycling and walking are encouraged by all Government Departments?

§ Mr. Bowis
On behalf of my right hon. Friend, I am grateful for my hon. Friend's opening remarks; and I can confirm that he and I walked here for questions. I know of my hon. Friend's prowess as a cyclist. From time to time I am taken for a walk by my border terrier. We can certainly agree that cycling and walking are better for us than captaining losing tug-of-war teams, which he and I have both done.
My hon. Friend's point is a serious one: deaths from coronary heart disease could be reduced if we all undertook more regular, moderate exercise. It is also undoubtedly true that the physical and mental health of the nation would be improved if we took more exercise and if there were fewer strikes by the trade unions affiliated to the Labour party.

§ Mr. Tony Banks
If walking and cycling are so healthy, perhaps we should all be grateful to ASLEF for its strike, which means that people can walk and cycle to work. That is another way of looking at the dispute.
It is all very well recommending walking and cycling in London, but the air outside is poisonous. When is the Minister, in collaboration with his colleagues, going to do something to improve the quality of our air so that it will be a pleasure to walk and cycle in London?

§ Mr. Bowis
Of course, if public transport was not on strike, fewer people would be in cars, more would be on the railways, and there would be less air pollution. The hon. Gentleman is right, however, to say that the issue needs looking at. Together with our right hon. Friends in other Departments and in our committees, air pollution is being examined at present; but I hope that the hon. Gentleman will indulge in a little exercise whether or not the trains are on strike, so as to improve his mental as well as his physical health.

§ Sir Jim Spicer
Does my hon. Friend agree that all exercise is important, not just cycling and walking? In that context, does my hon. Friend agree that one of the most successful campaigns in Britain was the one run by the Sports Council, in conjunction with the Health Education Authority, "50 Plus and all to Play For"? Will my hon. Friend give encouragement to a similar campaign on a continuing basis to encourage those of us who are getting on a bit?

§ Mr. Bowis
First, I congratulate my hon. Friend on swimming the Thames for charity and raising, I think, some £16,000. That is a tremendous achievement. Next time, we look forward to him walking it.
My hon. Friend is right to draw attention to that excellent campaign by the Sports Council and the HEA for sport for the over-50s. The message today goes not just to the over-50s—this links with the launch of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's sporting initiative, which is also good for the health of the nation—but to people of whatever age, including those over 65, to take up not only sport but moderate and regular exercise.