§ Mr. GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will set higher targets for physical education within the National Curriculum for all pupils, in response to the recent NAO report on obesity. [152537]
§ Jacqui Smith[holding answer 6 March 2001]: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 11 January that all children should receive an entitlement 446W to two hours of physical activity. This will be delivered during and after school through the PE curriculum and study support. We will be consulting with parents, teachers and relevant organisations to see how the two hour entitlement can be best delivered, and we are working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to look at ways of increasing the opportunities available to children to participate in physical activities. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority are also producing evidence that demonstrates how schools can achieve the two hours entitlement. Over the last two years, seven out of 10 schools have increased their provision of out of school hours activities, of which sport is the most popular, and over a half plan to increase provision in the coming year. The current curriculum is designed to promote positive attitudes towards active and healthy lifestyles, and the importance of fitness and health is a part of each Key Stage. We are working closely with the Department of Health on the National Healthy School Standard, which seeks to promote health and well being in schools.