§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage more people to switch from using cars to using bicycles for health reasons. [155462]
§ Yvette CooperModerate intensity physical activity, such as walking and cycling, can significantly reduce the risk of developing coronary heart disease and stroke and other chronic diseases.
We are taking action across Government to support physical activity, including cycling, working closely with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions. The Department of Health is a member of the National Cycle Forum, convened by the DETR, which is working towards national targets for increasing rates of cycling, and the school travel advisory group, also set up by the DETR, which aims to increase cycling and walking to school.
The National Service Framework for coronary heart disease requires that all National Health Service bodies working closely with local authorities will have agreed and be contributing to the delivery of local programmes of effective policies on increasing physical activity by 757W April 2001. Guidance issued by the Health Development Agency identifies cycling as a recommended component of local programmes.
The third stage of the safe and sound challenge was launched in December 2000. The scheme encourages children to walk or cycle to school along safe routes with cash prizes awarded to schools with the most innovative plans. This year safe and sound is offering schools in socially deprived areas the opportunity to develop healthy active modes of travel to school. This complements work being carried out through the national healthy school programme, which advocates a whole-school approach to health promotion, including encouraging cycling to school.