HC Deb 26 March 2003 vol 402 cc276-7W
Mr. Whittingdale

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the average time spent on sport and physical activity by those aged five to 16 in each of the last five years. [105012]

Mr. Caborn

A recent Sport England research study, conducted by MORI, "Young People and Sport in England: Trends in participation 1994–2002", revealed that seven out of 10 young people considered themselves to be a "sporty type of person" and are now inclined to participate in sport or exercise for an average of 8.1 hours a week outside school lessons, compared with 7.5 hours in 1999. The study also provided details of the average time spent in PE lessons, by years 2 (aged 7)—11 (aged 16), per week. The information covered the years 1994, 1999 and 2002, and is set out in the following table:

Percentage
1994 1999 2002
Yrs 2–11 Yrs 2–11 Yrs 2–11
Less than 30 mins 1
30 to 59 mins 5 18 6
1 hr to 1 hr 29 mins 22 22 20
1 hr 30 to 1 hr 59 mins 27 26 25
2 hrs to 2 hrs 29 mins 34 22 38
2 hrs 30 to 2 hrs 59 mins 6 5 7
3 hrs or more 6 5 4
2 hrs or more 46 33 49